Liu Lifen

Born in Yunnan. China

Living in Sweden

Artist / Curator

Here and There

About Liu Lifen and her art  

by Xia Hua

Regarding the title of exhibition,  Here and There, which is taken from a related word wheresoever in a sentence in the Buddhist scriptures Perfection of Wisdom in Chinese. It means constant time and space. Therefore here and there means also now and then. We believe that is suitable for artist Liu Lifen’s artistic creations and some part of her personal life.   Before the artist moved in Simrishamn in Sweden 2018, she had been constantly resident in several studios or spaces in different countries for fifteen years.  It was a worldwide roaming and the living style of this artist.  Liu presents some connection and intrinsic logic in her artworks. We are glad to see these unique soul landscapes of Liu Lifen through the new exhibition today.

In 2018/2019, Lifen experienced an important changing in her life. She moved to Simrishamn in Sweden from Kunming in China due to her new job. Almost completely synchronized, she got pregnant and became a mother. During the nodes and processes of this period, she began to create a new series paintings.  We can see her new expression is different from her early paintings. As a mother,  Liu gives attention to all things around her. A newborn baby, a growing daughter accompanied by toys. Nearly close-up of marine life, seawater. All of this is being expressed on her new paintings.  Her former works, like Lake (2017), showed a nearly panoramic view, a bystander's perspective.  Liu often painted a lonely paper boat or a small house, they symbolize any kind of floating, fragility and uncertainty. Unstable things with no destination. Now, the paper boat disappears. She approaches and examine these things. They are a quiet swan, or a sleeping waterfowl rounded by ripples and sea creatures, like soft and warm fabric. New works show some certainty and calm. They are here and don’t need a destination anymore. No longer a far-sighted perspective this time.

In the painting series of What is the man (2017), the artist used to express her doubts about men or women by decisive colour blocks and shapes.  That was still a spectator's perspective. Compared to her former series, Liu changed to be an intervener. She is involved in each moment of her daughter's growth. The little body and face are full of inquisitiveness, life dreams, and perhaps still has a sense of vulnerability. However, vulnerability is the essence of life. Liu never evaded this trait. She is immersed in expression of such beautiful moments of life, full of poetry and love.

In the student era of Liu Lifen,  her major was Chinese painting. She did not carry out her artistic practice in strict accordance with the tradition of Chinese painting, like most Chinese painters. Her path is more contemporary and experimental. She tried to find new expressions and used a variety of materials. She used oil paints, acrylics, paper, fibers and other materials .

Her long-distance walking route has also been worldwide. She has left the villages of the southwestern plateau of China, went to the hinterland of China, and went to Europe, North America, and Australia. From here to there, time follows her, giving her a precious richness and spirituality in artistic creation. 

These artworks require us to face up and watch carefully. In her paintings, we can see all details and in-depth depictions, a visual touch that the normal photo cannot give. The viewers need to get close to the artworks and let the paintings talk to them. It will let you become a part of the artist’s life here and now.

Kunming. Feb.2019