Luo Ping revolutionized the Chinese art scene even as a young painter. He created artworks directly from his dreams, from his sadness and heartache. In his paintings, he bridged the gap between the conscious and unconscious, something very extraordinary for 18th century Chinese painting.
Luo Ping became an orphan at a very early age. His father died when he was one year old and his mother a short time later. His talent in poetry and skill in painting were discovered when he was still a teenager. His penchant for trying new things and experimenting with ink, paint and brush made him special among Chinese artists. At the age of nineteen, Luo Ping married his great love, the poet and painter Fang Wanyi. They had a daughter and two sons, all of whom became artists. The symbol of the family later became the genre painting of plum blossoms. When Luo Ping turned twenty, he met the famous poet and artist Jin Nong. The latter took him under his wing, but not only for Luo Ping's benefit. Jin Nong had the young painter make paintings, which he then signed and sold himself. Nevertheless, Luo Ping, inspired by his master's soulful and expressive art, built a deep bond with Jin Nong. Both were among the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" who revolutionized Chinese art with their painting. When his mentor died after six years of collaboration, Luo Ping had him buried like a father. Luo Ping settled in Beijing, but lived and worked most of the time with his family in Yangzhou. For him, the dream world was very important. He believed to have been revealed in his dreams to be the reincarnation of a Luohan, a Buddhist monk of the Temple of Flowers. He therefore used the name "The Monk of the Temple of Flowers" as a pseudonym. In one of his most famous paintings called "Ghost Amusement", he showed a series of eight panels of different sizes with ghost-like creatures, which he combined into a 25 meter long scroll. He produced a descriptive poem to accompany it. This scroll led him to fame and he came to meet sophisticated members of high society.
When his wife died at the age of only 47, Luo Ping was currently in Beijing and could not be with her. This pain, which affected him until the end of his life, led him to a very ascetic way of life. He moved to Beijing, where he worked as a painter, but also as a copyist and art expert. He also took a job as the director of an orphanage, as a reminder of his childhood. He wrote a book called Record of My Beliefs, in which he explains to the reader what he learned as an artist. Also included in this book are descriptions of heaven and hell, demons, ghosts, goblins and other eerie creatures. At the age of 66, Luo Ping died. Thousands of people attended his funeral.
Luo Ping revolutionized the Chinese art scene even as a young painter. He created artworks directly from his dreams, from his sadness and heartache. In his paintings, he bridged the gap between the conscious and unconscious, something very extraordinary for 18th century Chinese painting.
Luo Ping became an orphan at a very early age. His father died when he was one year old and his mother a short time later. His talent in poetry and skill in painting were discovered when he was still a teenager. His penchant for trying new things and experimenting with ink, paint and brush made him special among Chinese artists. At the age of nineteen, Luo Ping married his great love, the poet and painter Fang Wanyi. They had a daughter and two sons, all of whom became artists. The symbol of the family later became the genre painting of plum blossoms. When Luo Ping turned twenty, he met the famous poet and artist Jin Nong. The latter took him under his wing, but not only for Luo Ping's benefit. Jin Nong had the young painter make paintings, which he then signed and sold himself. Nevertheless, Luo Ping, inspired by his master's soulful and expressive art, built a deep bond with Jin Nong. Both were among the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" who revolutionized Chinese art with their painting. When his mentor died after six years of collaboration, Luo Ping had him buried like a father. Luo Ping settled in Beijing, but lived and worked most of the time with his family in Yangzhou. For him, the dream world was very important. He believed to have been revealed in his dreams to be the reincarnation of a Luohan, a Buddhist monk of the Temple of Flowers. He therefore used the name "The Monk of the Temple of Flowers" as a pseudonym. In one of his most famous paintings called "Ghost Amusement", he showed a series of eight panels of different sizes with ghost-like creatures, which he combined into a 25 meter long scroll. He produced a descriptive poem to accompany it. This scroll led him to fame and he came to meet sophisticated members of high society.
When his wife died at the age of only 47, Luo Ping was currently in Beijing and could not be with her. This pain, which affected him until the end of his life, led him to a very ascetic way of life. He moved to Beijing, where he worked as a painter, but also as a copyist and art expert. He also took a job as the director of an orphanage, as a reminder of his childhood. He wrote a book called Record of My Beliefs, in which he explains to the reader what he learned as an artist. Also included in this book are descriptions of heaven and hell, demons, ghosts, goblins and other eerie creatures. At the age of 66, Luo Ping died. Thousands of people attended his funeral.
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