Chen Yifei

Chen Yifei

Chen Yifei (1946.4.14-2005.4.10) was born in Zhenhai, Zhejiang Province. Famous oil painter, cultural industrialist, director. In 1965, he graduated from the oil painting training class of Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts (now Shanghai Academy of fine arts, Shanghai University), entered the Shanghai oil painting and sculpture studio (now Shanghai oil painting and Sculpture Academy), and was once the head of the oil painting group. After traveling to the United States in 1980, he focused on the research and creation of Chinese oil paintings. With the idea of "big art", Chen Yifei has made creative achievements in film, clothing, environmental design and many other aspects, and has become a cultural celebrity. He is a famous Chinese artist at home and abroad.

In the 1960s and 1970s, he created such well-known excellent oil paintings as ode to the Yellow River, occupying the presidential palace, pacing and Zhouzhuang.

"I paint, make movies and design clothes. Now I have media. Some people ask me how to call me. I say visual artist."

——When Chen Yifei attended the press conference, he defined himself in this way.

Chen Yifei referred to all the fields he was involved in as "visual industry": "I am very concerned about all the beautiful things in my life. I am using the money I sell paintings to run my own visual industry. At the same time, getting involved in these industries will make a breakthrough in my painting style." Chen Yifei doesn't agree that artists should spend their whole lives painting. Times have changed, and more and more artists are walking out of salons and ivory towers.

At 8:44 a.m. on April 10, 2005, famous director and painter Chen Yifei died of gastric bleeding in Shanghai Huashan Hospital.

Personal experience

Born in 1946 in Ningbo, Zhejiang Zhenhai. In 1984, he received his master of Arts degree. Later, he engaged in oil painting creation in New York and held personal exhibitions in Washington, New York, Tokyo and other places. His works have participated in the auction of oil paintings in Hong Kong and China for many times, among which "mountain wind" is the highest auction price for Chinese oil paintings. His works are widely collected by China Art Museum, Chinese people's Revolution Museum and collectors at home and abroad. Water scenery, musical figures, classical ladies, and Tibet are the main themes of his paintings. As early as 1985, the New York Times claimed that Chen Yifei's "painting style combines realism and romanticism, which reminds people of the famous works of European masters." In 1983, when introducing Chen Yifei to the world, Dr. hammer, the owner of hammer Gallery, wrote an article and pointed out: "his paintings are close to poetry, because he is only instructing rather than affirming." In 1984, art news magazine named Chen Yifei as "a romantic realist. His works show a strong nostalgic atmosphere, and the quiet atmosphere is particularly moving." In 1985, when American oil magnate Dr. hammer visited China, he gave Deng Xiaoping his work memories of hometown - Double bridges as a gift.

Zhouzhuang complex

The reputation of Zhouzhuang, the first water town in China, is now familiar to tourists at home and abroad. Chen Yifei and Yang Mingyi contributed a lot to the discovery of Zhouzhuang.

At the end of 1970s, Yang Mingyi has been persistently pursuing in the field of landscape painting, and his sketching footprints have covered every corner of Suzhou suburbs. However, he found the old glass on the old table, which made him feel excited. So he took the old photo and asked around, but no one knew where it was. Yang Mingyi still does not give up. The water town in the photo is more and more strongly stimulating his creative desire. Finally, an unknown farmer casually said, "that's Zhouzhuang!"

Yang Mingyi immediately inquired about the route to Zhouzhuang, and the ferry arrived at Zhouzhuang, 40 kilometers away from Suzhou. At that time, Zhouzhuang was still a very simple and backward water town, with grocery stores, big cake and fried dough sticks shops, wooden toilets lined up all over the streets, simple and honest rural customs, and perfectly preserved water town pattern. Yang Mingyi was very comfortable, his ideas welled up, and his camera kept shining in his hands

At that time, Chen Yifei, as one of the first Chinese self funded students to go to the United States, had already studied for a master's degree in fine arts at Hunter College in New York. In his spare time, he made a living by repairing and selling paintings for others. Chen Yifei specializes in oil painting and is good at portrait painting, but his market in the United States is not ideal. Yang Mingyi sent the photos taken in Zhouzhuang to Chen Yifei, who is far away in the United States, and suggested that he create oil paintings based on the water town in the photos. As a result, the black and white Zhouzhuang in Chen Yifei's pen turned into a colorful dream of water. Zhouzhuang not only made his first painting exhibition a success, but also made him have a kind of confusing intimacy to Zhouzhuang who he had never met. In the early 1980s, Yang Mingyi and Chen Yifei, who had just returned home, embarked on the magical journey of discovering Zhouzhuang. The first time he walked into Zhouzhuang, Chen Yifei was intoxicated with the beautiful scenery of the water town which brought him luck. At that time, the only modern building in Zhouzhuang was the post office made of cement. Chen Yifei and Yang Mingyi climbed up the flat roof of the post office and eagerly recorded every inch of moving pictures in the eyes of the painter, especially the double bridge with a circle and a side. Chen Yifei was especially fond of it. In this way, Zhouzhuang, hidden in the boudoir, was discovered by two persistent artists, so that it was reasonably protected, developed and publicized. Thus, it became the first water town in China today. Although Chen Yifei, who pursued perfection, died, he always lived in the memory of his hometown and the water world he loved.

1965

He graduated from the oil painting training class of Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts (now Shanghai Academy of fine arts, Shanghai University). In the same year, he entered the Shanghai oil painting and sculpture studio to engage in oil painting creation.

1980

Chen Yifei went to hunt college in New York to study for a master's degree in fine arts. In a short period of time, he was given exhibition opportunities in the New England Center for modern art, the Smith Museum of art and the Brooklyn Museum.

1983

In October, he held his first solo exhibition at hammer Gallery in New York, and later held six solo exhibitions in the gallery. When introducing Chen Yifei to the world, Dr. hammer, the owner of hammer Gallery, wrote an article and pointed out: "his paintings are close to poetry, because he is only instructing rather than affirming."

1984

Chen Yifei's oil painting memories of hometown, which is based on Zhouzhuang, a watery Town, is on display at the hammer Gallery in New York, along with his other 37 Works. American Art News magazine named Chen Yifei as "a romantic realist. His works show a strong nostalgic atmosphere, and the atmosphere of silence is particularly moving."

1985

He held a solo exhibition at the Cochrane Museum of art in Washington. The oil painting "bridge" was selected as the first day cover by the United Nations. "Double bridges" was given to Chinese leader comrade Deng Xiaoping as a gift by American Western oil company chairman hammer when he visited China. The New York Times claimed that Chen Yifei's "painting style combines realism and romanticism, which reminds people of the famous works of European masters.".

1989

A solo exhibition was held in Xiwu, Japan.

1991

According to Bai Juyi's famous work "Pipa line", the oil painting "the charm of Xunyang" was sold at the Hong Kong Christie's auction for HK $1.37 million, which set the highest auction price of contemporary Chinese oil painters' oil paintings at that time.

1992

When he returned to Shanghai, he continued to work in oil painting and founded Layefe clothing brand and other companies engaged in visual arts. In the same year, as one of the only two guests, he participated in the Hong Kong International Art Fair and held a personal retrospective.

1993

Chen Yifei set foot in the film world and completed the autobiographical art film "old dream on the sea - Chen Yifei's personal Capriccio".

1995

He completed the feature film "appointment at dusk", which reflects Shanghai in the 1930s. He was selected into Cannes Film Festival in France and participated in the film festival, which attracted much attention.

1996-97

Chen Yifei retrospective exhibition was held in Shanghai Museum and China Art Museum in Beijing. In the same year, he held an exhibition of his paintings at the Marlboro Gallery in London and participated in the Venice Biennale.

1998

Hold a personal exhibition in France.

1999

Completed the film art film "escape to Shanghai" and TV documentary film "Shanghai Ark". In December, Marlborough gallery will hold a "cross century" Exhibition for him in New York.

2000

On March 20, Chen Yifei's sculpture "Oriental Girl" participated in a retrospective exhibition of modern sculpture held by the French Ministry of culture in the Royal Garden of Paris.

2002

He began to prepare for his second film, hairdresser. The next year, there was a "hairdresser" stop shooting event. ".

2005

At 8:44 a.m. on April 10, famous director and painter Chen Yifei died of gastric bleeding in Shanghai Huashan Hospital.

In the past few years, he has made great achievements in Christie's Christie's, Sotheby's, New York, Hong Kong and other auction activities, and has maintained the highest auction record of contemporary Chinese painters. Chen Yifei has signed a contract with Marlborough Gallery, the most authoritative art company in the world, becoming the first Asian painter in the history of Marlborough gallery.

He donated many times to the "Hope Project" and established the "Mengguang Art Education Foundation" from the sale of paintings. Yifei group has developed into a multi-functional visual industry group company integrating clothing, advertising, magazines, models, environmental art, etc.

Award winning record

Personal achievement

painting

Works introduction

Chen Yifei's famous works《