Lui Shou-Kwan
Lui Shou-Kwan (1919-1975) was a prominent Chinese painter and art educator known for his innovative contributions to Chinese ink painting, particularly in Hong Kong. Born in Guangzhou, China, he grew up in an artistic environment influenced by his father, a painter and art shop owner. Lui's early education was interrupted by the Second Sino-Japanese War, during which he and his family were displaced. After the war, he returned to his studies and earned a degree in economics, all while nurturing his artistic ambitions.
In 1948, Lui relocated to Hong Kong, where he worked various jobs while developing his painting. His landscape works, characterized by semi-abstract forms and vibrant colors, evolved into what became known as his Zen Paintings, reflecting a blend of simplicity and spiritual depth. He gained recognition through exhibitions internationally and contributed to the art community by reviewing art and teaching. Throughout his career, he emphasized the importance of personal expression in art, influencing generations of artists. Lui's legacy endures as a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern Chinese art in the late 20th century.
Subject Terms
Lui Shou-Kwan
Painter
- Born: 1919
- Birthplace: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Died: September 26, 1975
- Place of death: Hong Kong, China
Education: Guangzhou University
Significance: Lui Shou-kwan was a Chinese artist, art educator, and writer primarily known for his series of ink paintings called the Zen Paintings. Lui used ink to paint abstract designs of various landscapes. Lui was also a respected art teacher throughout his career, earning a number of honorary teaching positions and presiding over courses at various Hong Kong institutions. He exhibited his works all over the world throughout his career. His paintings continue to be exhibited in museums around the globe.
Background
Lui Shou-kwan was born in 1919 in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. His father, Lui Tsan Ming, was a painter and owned a picture-mounting and antique shop called Hongxuezhai. The shop was a popular hub of artistic activity, and Lui was surrounded by many famous artists growing up. Lui inherited the artistic talents of his father and studied Chinese painting by copying the works of past artistic masters such as Bada Shanren and Huang Binhong. Lui grew up in a China rife with political unrest, and the family was forced to move around frequently when Lui was young. He attended high school at Zhiyong Secondary School, first in Guangzhou and then in Hong Kong. After graduating in 1938, he enrolled at Guangzhou University. Two years into his studies, he and his family were forced to flee Hong Kong when Japanese forces occupied the city during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).
Lui’s whereabouts during the war are known only as they are described in his father’s writings. From these texts, scholars know that the family sought refuge in several parts of the country during the war. Lui’s father opened a small restaurant in Guangzhouwan to support his family. The family then moved to Guilin until the Japanese arrived there; they then moved to Shaoguan where they remained until the end of the war. During this period, Lui worked as a school teacher and government employee. He put his artistic ambitions on hold while the war panned out.
When the war was over, the Lui family returned to Guangzhou. Lui returned to his studies at Guangzhou University. He was married by this time and studied part time, graduating with a degree in economics in 1946. He took a job as an inspector for the Finance Department of the Municipal Government of Guangzhou for two years. During this period, he organized the Guangdong Flood Charity Fund Chinese Painting Exhibition in Canton, China, which raised money for flood survivors. He also returned to painting himself, mainly as a respite from the trials of government work. Lui witnessed many corrupt activities while working for the government, and he sought a way to forge a career in art.
Life’s Work
Lui relocated to the city of Hong Kong in 1948 and took a job as an inspector for the Hong Kong and Yaumatei Ferry Company the following year. He worked at the company for nearly two decades. His time there saw him regularly working on piers so he could observe the ferries. On the piers, Lui was privy to some of the most exquisite scenery in Hong Kong. The harbor was set against Hong Kong’s grand mountains. The views inspired him to paint landscape scenes of the harbor and mountains. Landscape paintings became a favorite medium of Lui. His work was regarded as semi-abstract, as it did not pay attention to detail as much as color and form. These early works helped develop what would become his characteristic Zen Paintings. These paintings sacrificed traditional depictions in favor of boundless simplicity. Some of his paintings featured only sparse brush strokes positioned to evoke the thought of an object without committing it to a fixed form. Scholars believe Lui’s Zen Paintings were inspired by Buddhist philosophy, and his writings show that he felt a spiritual connection to his art.
In 1952, Lui began writing art reviews for local newspapers. He regularly covered local art exhibitions and wrote commentary on emerging styles of art during that period. In 1954, he held his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. More exhibitions followed all over the world. His work was shown in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1956, he published the book A Study of Chinese Painting, and in 1957, he was named a member of the Society of Hong Kong Artists.
Lui also worked as an art teacher during this time. In 1958, he founded the New Art Studio as a venue for art education, and his reputation as an artist and educator quickly grew. The following year, he was asked to serve as honorary advisor for the Modern Literature and Art Association. He continued to write about art and review exhibitions, even doing write-ups on Korean art works. Throughout the 1960s, Lui served in a number of advisory positions and taught at various institutions. He began teaching Chinese ink painting at the University of Hong Kong in 1966. In 1971, the British government awarded Lui the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He passed away in 1975 at what was considered the height of his career.
Impact
Lui led a distinguished career as a painter and art educator in the city of Hong Kong. He was an important figure in the development of Chinese ink painting, and his contributions to his students encouraged the continued growth of Chinese art throughout Hong Kong. Lui believed in personal expression through ink painting and encouraged his students to find their own meaning in the medium. Lui’s influence extended decades beyond his career, affecting modern and traditional artists into the twenty-first century.
Personal Life
Lui married Mui Sin Ping during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the pair had a daughter, Lui Chin Lo.
Principal Works:Paintings
Victoria Gap, 1959
Boat Houses, 1961
Farmland at Dawn, 1962
Lotus, 1968
Zen Lotus, 1969
Junks at Sea, 1970
Zen Painting A70-11, 1970
Zen Painting A70-20, 1970
Taiwan Landscape Huoyan, 1971
Ink Lotus, 1974
Zen Painting A74-3, 1974
Bibliography
“Emptiness: Lui Shou Kwan in Dialogue with Emily Carr.” Vancouver Art Gallery, www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/media‗room/pdf/VAG‗RLS‗Emptiness.pdf. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.
“Lui Shou-Kwan.” Alisan Fine Arts, alisan.com.hk/en/artists‗detail.php?id=3. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.
“Lui Shou-Kwan.” ArtNet Worldwide Corporation, www.artnet.com/artists/lui-shou-kwan/biography. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.
“Lui Shou-Kwan.” Artsy, www.artsy.net/artist/lui-shou-kwan-lu-shou-kun. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.
“Lui Shou-Kwan.” Lui Shou-kwan, luishoukwan.com/. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.
Mei Lin, Lai, Lui Shou-Kwan and Modern Ink Painting. U of Sydney P, 2011.
Serfaty, Paul. “A Master to All.” Asian Art News, 2015, www.lingpuisze.com/uploads/1/2/8/9/12893660/lui-shou-kwan2.pdf. Accessed 10 Dec. 2018.