Tribute to Lu You

Tribute to Lu You

《Tribute to Lu You》 by Christian Lu  : A Work Filled with Poetry and Emotion

Through this painting, Christian Lu not only pays tribute to his ancestor, the renowned poet Lu You (陆游), but also seeks to share his vision of family heritage and cultural transmission. This artwork was exhibited at the China Art Museum in Shanghai, the painter’s hometown, once again highlighting his deep connection to his roots.

Visual Language and Atmosphere of the Artwork

From a visual perspective, Hommage à Lu You is an abstract painting dominated by shades of purple and blue, with intense and nuanced colors. Purple symbolizes mystery, depth, and nobility, while blue evokes serenity and vastness. The interplay of these colors creates a dreamlike atmosphere, transporting the viewer into a spiritual realm beyond reality.

The composition of the painting is centered on mountains and clouds, with sharp and defined mountain ridges, while the clouds are rendered with soft brushstrokes, creating a visual effect that combines movement and tranquility. This artistic technique recalls the depictions of nature in Lu You’s poetry, particularly his admiration for and contemplation of mountainous and aquatic landscapes. Lu You’s poetry often uses nature to convey deep reflections on life and the homeland. In a similar way, Christian Lu responds to this spirit through his visual language.

Cultural and Family Significance of the Artwork

As a descendant of the Lu family, Christian Lu’s creation is not merely a personal artistic expression; it is also a continuation and homage to his family’s heritage. Since its foundation by Lu Jigong, the Lu lineage has spanned over two thousand years and has produced many distinguished figures. Lu You, one of its most illustrious representatives, left a lasting impact through his poetry imbued with patriotism and deep emotions. Through this painting, Christian Lu expresses his respect for his ancestor while integrating the spiritual essence of his family’s culture into his artistic creation.

This cultural transmission is metaphorically represented in the painting. The mountains symbolize the foundations and continuity of the lineage, while the clouds illustrate the perpetuation and elevation of its spirit. The harmony between purple and blue reflects both a contemplation of family history and an aspiration toward the future.

Connection Between the Artwork and the Exhibition Theme

The theme of the exhibition Dreams of Clouds – Christian Lu Art Exhibition resonates deeply with the atmosphere of this painting. Yunmeng (Clouds and Dreams) refers to the vast marshlands of the ancient Chu kingdom, symbolizing the grandeur and mystery of nature. Through its colors and composition, the artist’s work recreates a universe similar to Yunmeng, celebrating both the beauty of nature and the family’s cultural heritage.

The exhibition highlights the profound connections between art, nature, history, and culture. Hommage à Lu You vividly embodies this connection: it not only honors Lu You’s poetic spirit but also serves as a bridge between family tradition and artistic renewal.

 

 

 

Visit of Abbot Juexing (Jade Buddha Temple)

In December 2024, Christian Lu (陆永安) welcomed abbot Juexing (觉醒) at his Shanghai workshop.

The Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai holds from now the artpiece Montagnes Jaunes : Impressions.

Christian Lu would states that “through art, one does simply  transcribes the link between humans and nature.”

Promoting International Shanghai import Expo

“The Resonance of the Olympic Spirit and Visual Arts”

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The Paris Olympics leave behind a precious legacy, a new milestone in the history of human civilization, symbolizing mutually beneficial exchange and cooperation.

During the Olympic Games, the “Beijing-Paris” event took place under the Eiffel Tower, and today, during the Shanghai International Import Expo, the “Paris-Shanghai” program has been recorded on the Huangpu River. This fills me with deep emotions.

As a visual artist with 30 years of experience in China and 40 years in France, through my learning, life, and creative work, I have had the privilege of observing both Eastern and Western civilizations through the lens of art history. I have been able to grasp the greatness of Chinese civilization, particularly the “spirit of image” from the scholars of the Song dynasty, which once illuminated the world. This “spirit of image” is also at the core of the exploration of abstraction in contemporary Western art. From Fan Kuan to Cézanne, from Zhu Da (Badashanren) to Van Gogh’s works, we can clearly observe the common quest for visual art and the shared aesthetic values across cultures.

In this era of China’s cultural renaissance and the building of a shared destiny for humanity, it is essential for an artist to embrace the world and create works that carry noble spiritual meanings and universal values, capable of resonating with different civilizations, cultures, and contexts.

Regarding art, I firmly believe that the form of expression is not the most important thing. What matters is the sincerity with which one expresses their emotions, the way one conveys aesthetic ideas, and the ability to transmit a worldview and the spirit of our time that inspires positive energy.

I wish the seventh edition of the Shanghai International Import Expo great success, with fruitful results. We have witnessed the importance of this event in further promoting China’s high-level economic opening and stimulating global economic growth. The Expo is also a platform for cultural exchange and the sharing of ideas, demonstrating China’s sincerity and openness to cooperation and a shared future with the world.

At this moment, I am reminded of the revolutionary pioneers such as Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yi, as well as the artists Liu Haisu, Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, Yan Wenliang, and Zhao Wuji, who all once journeyed from Shanghai to France. It is here, on the banks of the Huangpu River, that generations of Chinese sought ideals, brought back what they had learned, and offered it to their motherland. I am deeply grateful to our ancestors and to this beloved land, Shanghai, my hometown!

I will continue to strive to share through my works the decades of artistic exploration and practice, proving that an artwork can be created around the spirit and emotions of Chinese culture, thus making a modest contribution to the arts.

Dreams of Clouds at the Art Museum of China – Shanghai

January 2024 : Exhibition of Christian Lu entitled “Rêves de Nuages” (Dreams of Clouds) at the Art Museum of China in Shanghai.

In 2024, the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France is to be celebrated.

Among the paintings that are showcased, many of them are tributes to the Chinese masters who guided him along the way before he left China for France.

The entire universe of Christian Lu is made of dreams and imaginary landscapes.

Opening ceremony of “Dreams of Clouds” exhibition

The artist painter Christian Lu (陆永安)  held an exhibition of about thirty recent art works  at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing early November (中国美术馆 – NAMOC).

Mr.Wu Weishan, President of the Museum, Mr. Peng Jianming, President of China Media Group, Mrs. Zhang Xiaoman, general director of the Digital Museum of Art and Culture and Mr. Dong Qiang, director of the Yenching Academy of Peking University, attended the opening ceremony of this solo exhibition “Dreams of Clouds”.

Christian Lu with Wu Wei Shan 陆永安与吴为山馆长

Christian Lu with Wu Wei Shan 陆永安与吴为山馆长
Christian Lu with Wu Wei Shan 陆永安与吴为山馆长
Christian Lu with Wu Wei Shan 陆永安与吴为山馆长
Wu Wei Shan，Christian Lu  and Dong Qian, director of the Yenching Academy of Peking University（ 吴为山馆长和燕京学院院长董强)

Mr. Peng JianMing President of China Media Group (中央广播电视总台彭建明)
Mr. Peng Jianming with Mrs Zhang Xiaoman, general director of the Digital Museum of Art and Culture (中央广播电视总台 导彭建明，“央博”数字文化艺术博物馆领导张筱曼)
Mrs. Zhang Xiaoman, general director of the Digital Museum of Art and Culture (“央博”数字文化艺术博物馆领导张筱曼)

The Christian Lu Gallery opens its doors !

We are very pleased to announce the opening of the gallery dedicated to the artworks of Christian Lu’s painting.

During the opening, we had the honor to welcome :  Mr and Mrs Raffarin, Mr Fabius – President of the Consitutional Council – and Mrs Fabius, Mr Lecoq – Mayor of the 6th arrondissement, Mr Lu Shaye – Ambassador of China in France, Mr  Badré – CEO of Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital (investment fund), Mr et Mrs Pompidou, Mr Hutin – Director of Fondation Claude Pompidou – et Mrs Hutin as well as Mr Layani – President of Rungis.

We were delighted to welcome our dear friends : Mr Dulieu – Archivist of the Salon d’Automne, Mr Callegari, Mr Ros – CEO of Paco Chicano, Mr Ghenassia as well as Mrs Charpentier.

 

 

In Shanghai with Mister Alain Pompidou

With Mister Alain Pompidou – Pompidou Center Shanghai West Bund Museum – in front of Zao Wou-ki artwork
With Mister Alain Pompidou – Centre Pompidou Shanghai West Bund Museum – in front of Zao Wou-ki artwork

 

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) arrives for the inauguration of Centre Pompidou West Bund Museum in Shanghai on november 5, 2019. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / POOL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Pompidou’s couple visiting Christian Lu’s atelier