Underground and loving it
Paint manufactures sponsors charity exhibition in Beijing's subway
Commuters usually rush through subway stations buy several murals along the corridor of one of Beijing’s busiest subway intersections are slowed many down or even causing them to stop.
The special paintings are on show in the charity art exhibition “Fresh Beginning for Love”, which was launched recently by Nippon Paint.
With their bright colours and intriguing details, the murals have turned the corridors of Guomao Station into a splendid art gallery.
Created by 32 young painters, cartoonists and illustrators from China, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Guatemala and the UK, the paintings will tour other subway stations in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Tony Tsai from Nippon Paint reckons it’s a natural way the company to establish a connection with the art world.
“We tried bringing in as many artists of different styles, cultures, and backgrounds as possible to tell their unique life stories and interpret the rich meaning of love,” Tsai says.
The 32 large-scale works took more than six months to complete.
“I’m happy that the young artists have so many ideas and can blend their life experiences and understanding of colours in their creations,” says exhibition curator Auyeung Yingchai, a Hong Kong cartoonist. “Each painting delivers positive energy that comes from deep inside the artist.”
Beijing artist Luo Qianxi painted a love story with her boyfriend. It has a bright rainbow above and a large dark area below. She it shows how her boyfriend helped her explore the city and gradually discover its good sides. She finally decided to stay with him in the capital, despite her dislike of the pollution and traffic.
The exhibition is an innovative idea, Auyeung says . “We have not only given young artists a chance to show their talent, but also connect more people to art in this way.”
All the artworks will be sold after the exhibitions to raise money for a charity programme, which the company initiated to improve the general environment and support art education in rural schools, according to Tsai.
The paintings will be brought to Guangzhou’s Yuexiu Park Station in July and Shanghai’s Nanjing East Road Station in August.
