Chinese Hyperrealist Artist Awarded an Honorary Doctorate From Birmingham City University
By Ryan General
A Chinese artist renowned for his lifelike artwork that looks more like photographs than paintings was given a top honor at a university in Britain.
Birmingham City University bestowed Leng Jun one of its most prestigious accolades by awarding him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his amazing skills on Tuesday, CGTN reports.
The Sichuan-born hyperrealist painter, who is currently based in Beijing, visited Birmingham earlier this week to receive the honor.
A graduate of Wuhan Normal College’s Fine Arts Department in 1984, Leng’s name has been synonymous with hyper-realistic artwork that is rich with incredible detail.
His work has been recognized not only in China but also in many parts of the world.
“Leng Jun’s artistry has been described as ‘paintings that are beyond limits’ by scholars, meaning they meet or exceed the usual standards of oil painting,” a spokesman for the university was quoted as saying.
“His artistic process relies entirely on sketches, rather than photographs, ensuring that every work is vivid and intriguing in its visual effect, and captures the most minute details.”
In a speech he delivered to the Birmingham City University graduates, Leng advised that “the study of art is not the same as other professions.”
Quoting Confucius, he added, “Let the will be set on the path of duty. Let every attainment of what is good be firmly grasped. Let perfect virtue be emulated. Let relaxation and enjoyment be found in the arts.”
“The general idea is that art is the last energy or path to the soul, which is second only to morality and benevolence. It is firmly placed in front of philosophy and science,” Leng explained.
Featured Image via Instagram / leng_jun_artist
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