Liu Yuming

Li Yueming (Master of Shuofeng Hall), Hui ethnic group, graduated from the Fine Arts College of Ningxia University in 1981. He is a member of the Chinese Contemporary Calligraphers and Painters Research Association, a member of the Ningxia Branch of the China Artists Association, Vice Chairman of the Shizuishan Artists Association, and Vice President of the Shizuishan Academy of Painting and Calligraphy. He studied under the late renowned tiger painter Wang Jingping, and has long been engaged in research and creation of painting and calligraphy, specializing in freehand landscape and figure paintings. In recent years, he has devoted himself to exploring the techniques and artistic conceptions of literati painting styles from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, as well as the uninhibited and open atmosphere characteristic of Northern school landscapes. He strives to draw nourishment from the artistic languages of masters such as Fan Kuan, Dong Yuan, Shi Tao, Ba Da, and Huang Binhong, carefully studying the ancient "Six Principles" of painting, emphasizing the resonance between brushwork and soul, integrating and internalizing these traditions, and freely expressing them through brush and ink—applying stroke techniques and ink methods into depictions of form and spirit, emotion and scholarship. His works often focus on Western Chinese themes such as the majestic and beautiful scenery of Helan Mountain, the hometown customs of the “Jiangnan beyond the Frontier,” the ancient Silk Road stretching for thousands of miles, and pastoral scenes of horse herding across vast deserts. His artistic range is broad, with diverse and rich expressive techniques; skilled at absorbing strengths from various schools, he continuously explores new horizons in Western Chinese landscape painting. He emphasizes diligent practice in calligraphy to nurture his brushwork and ink expression, revealing an overall artistic character defined by calligraphy as bone, ink as rhythm, and poetry as soul. Some of his works have been collected by museums and individuals in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Canada, and elsewhere. His artworks and biographical entries have been included in publications such as *Famous Contemporary Chinese Calligraphers and Painters of the Twentieth Century*. His calligraphy demonstrates, both in technical mastery and stylistic demeanor, the bearing of a professional calligrapher. In April 2010, he published his personal collection *Li Yueming's Chinese Painting Works*. In October 1999, his work *Spring Dawn at Helan Mountain* won the Bronze Award in the Ningxia Art Exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the PRC; In October 1999, his work *Spring Dawn at Helan Mountain* won the Silver Award in the Second Regional Mass Cultural Competition; In January 2001, his work *Golden Autumn on the Frontier* won the Silver Award in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region’s “Sentiment of Rural Life” Art Exhibition; In July 2001, his work *Scenery of Helan Mountain* won the Gold Award in the Shizuishan City Art Exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party; In October 2001, his work *A Journey West* won the Bronze Award in the First National “Yaojixing Cup” Painting and Calligraphy Competition; In August 2002, his work *Looking Back at the Frontier* won Second Prize in the Third National Art Exhibition of Five Autonomous Regions; In October 2002, his work *Majestic Greenery of Lanshan* won the Silver Award in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region’s “Qunxing Award”; In May 2003, his work *Fresh Wind over Verdant Fields* won the Silver Award in the Shizuishan City “Two Games” Art Exhibition; In October 2004, his work *Panoramic View of Helan Mountain* won the Silver Award in the Shizuishan City Art Exhibition celebrating the 55th anniversary of the founding of the PRC; In October 2005, his work *August on the Frontier* won the Gold Award in the Sixth “Qunxing Cup” Painting and Calligraphy Competition of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; In March 2007, he was awarded the title of “Excellent Tutor Teacher” in painting by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education; In October 2007, his work *Spring Wind Blowing Over Helan Mountain* won the Gold Award in the Shizuishan City Art Exhibition; In July 2009, his work *Mountains Dancing Like Silver Serpents* received the Outstanding Award in the Ministry of Culture Staff “Ode to the Motherland” Art Exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC; In November 2009, his work *August on the Frontier* won the Third Prize in the Eighth Literary and Artistic Creation Awards (“Fine Arts”) of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In June 2010, his work *Snow Flying Over Helan Mountain* won the Silver Award in the “Qunxing Cup” Painting and Calligraphy Competition of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; In December 2010, his work *August on the Frontier* received the First Shizuishan Municipal Government Literary and Artistic Works Award. His works *Autumn Rhythm of Stream and Mountain*, *Waterfall Amid Autumn Mountains*, and *Helan Mountain Homestead* were selected three times for the Shizuishan City “Environmental Protection Cup” Art Exhibition, winning Gold and Silver Awards respectively.