Luo Qi

1960, Hangzhou China

Introduction

Born in 1960 Hangzhou, Luo Qi is a founder and leading figure of the post-modern calligraphy movement Calligraphyism, formed in Mainland China in the 1980s. This group of Chinese artists attempts to transform Chinese calligraphy into a contemporary idiom, challenging its aesthetic style and semantic function. He graduated from the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou in 1986, having majored in etching, before working as a lecturer at the same academy. In 2001, he won the painting award at the Third Florence International Contemporary Art Biennial. He was also a finalist at The First Ten Years: Chinese Contemporary Art Documentary Exhibition, and won the Contemporary International Art Award at the Fujisan International Ink Painting Exhibition in Japan in 2004. He was appointed Director of the Calligraphy Art Institute in Hangzhou in 2009 and established the Luo Qi International Contemporary Art Museum in Zhejiang in 2013. Lars Berglund writes that the artist “never abandons his heritage in calligraphy and ink painting… he still maintains that the ideas behind his abstract works are purely Chinese.”  

He has had numerous major exhibitions across the globe, including in the United States, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, China, and Hong Kong. His work was also included in the important modern calligraphy exhibition Writing Non-writing at the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou in 2015. Alisan Fine Arts held solo exhibitions for Luo Qi in 2004, 2006 and 2009, and exhibited his works in the group show Tracing the Brush: Transformed Text at Ink Asia 2015. His works have been collected by The Rubin-Frankel Gallery, Boston University; Yale University Art Gallery; Cleveland Public Library; University of Genoa; Malmö Modern Art Museum; Lund University, Sweden; National Museum of History and Art, Luxembourg.


BIOGRAPHY
1960     Born in Hangzhou, China
1986     Graduated from China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China, majoring in etching
1986-96     Lecturer at China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
1996     Editor/Associate Professor, China Academy of Art Press, Hangzhou, China
1999-00     Lectured at Milan Academy of Fine Arts, Genova University, Asia-Pacific Archive, Italy; Seattle Communication College, WA; International Art Center, Washington DC, USA
2000-01     Visited Columbia University, Harvard University, Washington University, USA; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Academy of Fine Arts, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; China-France Cultural Art Association, Paris, France; National Art Gallery, Ministry of Culture, Luxembourg
2001     Invited by Genova University and Asia-Pacific Contemporary Art Committee to organize exhibitions The Asian Art of Writing & Photography in China
2005     Chief editor, Art Riches Magazine, Hangzhou, China
Visited Academy of Art, Ewha Women's University, Korea
2006     Visited National Art Gallery, Ministry of Culture, Luxembourg; East-Asian Museum, Lund University, Sweden
2008     Paris Fashion Week 2008/09 Autumn/Winter, Louvre, France
2009     Director of Calligraphyism Art Institute, Hangzhou, China
2013     Established Luo Qi International Contemporary Art Museum, Zhejiang, China 
2018     Lectured at Bologna University, Bologna, Italy


SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023   

  • Memory of History: Luo Qi & Giovanni Cerri, Cultural Centre in Milano, Milano, Italy; Ningbo Art Museum, Ningbo; The Roof Culture, Hanzhou, China

2019   

  • Dunhuang: The Scores and ictorial Narrative of Ancient Chinese Music From Luo Qi's Journal, Science and Cultiral Central of Macau, Lisbon, Portugal

2016   

  • Lucky + Eight Thousand Carol, Carclew House, Kaurna Country, South Australia
  • 12+Lucky, Boccioni Artistic School, Milan, Italy

2015   

  • Lucky: Abstract Expressionism vs Contemporary Calligraphy, Ninbella Contemporary, Australian Art Gallery, Unley City, Australia
2014   
  • 53th Street Arts Centre, Milan, Italy
2012   
  • Harbour Office, Port de Saint Pierre, France
2011   
  • Mauritius Art Museum, South Africa
2009   
2008   
  • Luo Qi, Calligraphy-painting, Cleveland Public Library, Ohio, USA
2007  
  • Calligraphy-painting Solo Exhibition Luo Qi, Art Channel, Beijing, China
  • Poetry, Oil on Canvas Exhibition Luo Qi, Shain Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Hat Tai, Solo Exhibition Luo Qi, Siam Art Museum, Thailand
2006   
 2004   
  • Luo Qi, Oil on Canvas and Ink Painting, Qin Hao Gallery, Beijing, China
2001   
  • Poetry, Luo Qi, Oil on Canvas Solo Exhibition, Shan Gallery, Shanghai, China
2000   
  • Traveling exhibitions American Diary, New York, Boston, Washington DC, Seattle, USA
  • Canadian Diary, University of British, Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
  • Poetry: Recent Work by Luo Qi, Shanghai Art Exhibition Center, China
1997   
  • Sound and Fragrance are Wafting over the Evening, concert performance by an American musician accompanying an exhibition of Luo Qi's abstract oil paintings, Zhejiang International Exhibition Centre, China
1993   
  • Woodcarving by Luo Qi: Landscapes, University of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
1990   
  • Works by Luo Qi, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018  
  • The Voice of the Brush Part 1, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
  • The Music of Ink - Calligraphies by Luo Qi and Silvio Ferragina in Dialogue, with the Chinese Ａrchive Ｃollection of the Braidense Library, Braidense National Library of Sala Maria Teresa, Milan; Bologna University, Bologna, Italy
  • Recent Works, by 5 artists, PSU Art Gallery, Prince of Songkla University, Songkla, Thailand

2017   

  • Connections Mauritius China: Angel Angoh & Luo Qi, Fort Adelaide, Port Louis, Mauritius
  • Exhibition of Asian, African and Mediterranean Art, Liangzhu Centre of Arts, Hangzhou, China
2016   

2015   

2014   

  • Guangdong Contemporary Art Exhibition, 53 Art Museum, Guangzhou, China
2009   
  • Hong Kong International Arts & Antiques Fair, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Centre, Hong Kong
2007   
  • Another Look-China, Washington DC International Exhibition Hall, USA
  • Visual Encounter International Group Exhibition, Alliance Francaise, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Kaifun-Taipei International Calligraphy Biennial Exhibition 2007, Gallery of Huafan University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • China, Japan, and Korea Contemporary Abstract Oil Painting Exhibition, Kyushu Art Museum, Kyushu, Japan
  • Modern Calligraphy Exhibition, Tokyo Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
  • Asian Modern Print Exhibition, China Seal Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
2006   
  • The Second Ten Years: Chinese Contemporary Art Documentary Exhibition, Hubei Art Museum, Wuhan, China
  • International Calligraphy Festival, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea
  • Asian-African International Modern Art Exhibition, Bali Art Centre, Indonesia
  • Calligraphy Live Scene, Henglu Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
  • Asian Printed Arts Exhibition, China Yinxue Museum, Hangzhou, China
  • Artist of the Year Exhibition by Chinese Painting Magazine, Art Museum of Nanjing University of Art, Nanjing, China
2005   
  • The Act of Writing and Non-writing: The Open Space for Chinese Calligraphy: International Exhibition of Modern Calligraphy, Zhejiang West Lake Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
  • Contemporary Chinese Art, Ewha Women's University, Seoul, Korea
2004  
  • The First Ten Years: Chinese Contemporary Art Documentary Exhibition, China 
2003   
  • 3rd Asia-Pacific International Biennial, Genova National Contemporary Art Museum, Genova, Italy
2002  
  • Chinese Abstract Writings, Hong Kong
2001   
  • 3rd Florence Biennial, Florence Contemporary Art Museum, Florence, Italy
  • Contemporary Chinese Art, Helsinore Munkeruptus Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark; Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
  • Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2000   
  • New Chinese Paintings, Shanghai Art Museum, China
  • 2000 International Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Jiangsu Art Museum, Nanjing, China
  • Contemporary Chinese Art, University of Kansas, Kansas, USA
1999  
  • New Wave: Seoul International Exhibition, DOUL Art Centre, Seoul, Korea
  • An Approach, Contemporary Art: Six-Man Art Exhibition, Seattle Centre for Culture & Art Exchange, Seattle, USA
  • Dialogues-1999, Beijing International Art Museum, Beijing; Taida Modern Art Museum, Tianjin, China
  • Asia-Pacific International Biennial Art Exhibition, Genova National Contemporary Art Museum, Genova, Italy
  • An Art Exhibition Opening, Liguria, Genova Duke Museum, Genova, Italy
  • 1999 Asian Modern Art Invitational Exhibition, Seoul Art Museum, Korea
  • Into the New Century,1979-1999 Chinese Art Invitational Exhibition, Sichuan Modern Art Museum, Sichuan, China
1998  
  • Mondrian In China, Beijing International Art Museum, Beijing; Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai; Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
  • Brushwork: Contemporary Chinese Art, Malmö Modern Art Museum, Malmo, Sweden
  • Brushed Voices: Calligraphy in Contemporary China, Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York, USA
1997   
  • Abstract and Neo-Abstract, Nice International Exhibition Hall, Nice, France
  • The Many Facets of Abstraction, Brussels Modern Art Museum, Brussels, Belgium
  • Southeast Modern Artists Invitational Exhibition, Bangkok International Art Center, Bangkok Thailand
1996  
  • A New Era, Vienna Modern Art Museum, Vienna, Austria
  • Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Chinese Art of the Future, Berlin World Culture & Art Center, Berlin, Germany
  • International Peace Culture Festival, Seoul International Culture & Art Centre, Seoul, Korea
1994  
  • Seoul 600th Anniversary Modern Asian Art Invitational Exhibition, Seoul Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
1993  
  • 1993 International Calligraphy Exhibition, Henan Art Museum, Zhengzhou, China
  • Modern Asian Art Invitational Exhibition, Seoul Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
1992  
  • Two Coasts Modern Art Exchange, Tainan Art Museum, Taiwan
  • 2nd Contemporary Chinese Art Documentary Exhibition, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou, China
1991   
  • Modern Art of China, Korea and Japan, Shizuoka Art Museum, Shizuoka, Japan
1990  
  • Modern Chinese Art, Gifu Art Museum, Gifu, Japan
  • Young Chinese Artists’ Etchings, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
  • Art & Culture Exchange, HHY Gallery, Paris, France
1989   
  • Special Exhibition: In Memory of Hugo, French Culture & Art Centre, Paris, France
1988   
  • Contemporary Chinese Art, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
  • Modern Chinese Art, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
1987   
  • International Etching Exhibition, German Cultural Centre, Berlin, Germany
  • Chinese Etching, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
  • Six-man Etching Exhibition, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
 
SELECTED AWARDS 
2017-16
  • Winner of "The Most Beautiful Book" in China, China
2004
  • Nomination The First Ten Years: Chinese Contemporary Art Documentary Exhibition
  • China Contemporary International Art Award, Fujisan International Ink Painting Exhibition, Japan

2001

  • Painting Award, 3rd Florence International Contemporary Art Biennial, Italy
  • International Art Contribution Award, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand


SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Rubin-Frankel Gallery, Hillel House, Boston University, Boston, USA
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, USA
Asia-Pacific Art Centre, Pasadena, USA
Cleveland Public Library, Ohio, USA
FBVA Foundation for the Humanities, France
Art Association of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France
Contemporary Asia-Pacific Art Archives, Italy
Genova University, Genova, Italy
Malmö Modern Art Museum, Malmo, Sweden
Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Research Institute for East-Asian Culture, Berlin, Germany
National Art Gallery, Ministry of Culture, Luxembourg
RTESN Gallery, Netherlands
Novo Nordisk Art Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
Eastern Art Museum, Japan
Netherlands Consul General in Shanghai, China
Chinese Contemporary Art Documentary Center, Beijing, China
Oriental Plaza, Beijing, China
Grand Hyatt, Beijing, China
Consul General of France in Hong Kong

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
It is I: Poems without Words by a Practitioner of Calligraphism: Luo Qi, Lijiang Publishing House, Guilin, China, 2018
Luo Qi Art Anthology - Luo Qi in Milano, Sala Boccioni, Lijiang Publishing House, Guilin, China, 2017
The Silk Road Note, Lijiang Publishing House, Guilin, China, 2017
Gandhara, Lijiang Publishing House, Guilin, China, 2016
The Ink Opera, Lijiang Publishing House, China, 2016
Luo Qi: Calligraphy-Painting, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, 2006
Consciousness - Luo Qi’s Works, Malaysia Modern Art Museum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2006
Drawing Music, Guangxi Normal Press, Nanning, China, 2006
A Collection of Essays on Calligraphyism – A Conceptual Art (Chinese), China Academy of Art Press, Hangzhou, China, 2001
Calligraphy and Contemporary Art, China Academy of Art Press, Hangzhou, China, 2001
Luo Qi, Poetry, Shan Gallery Art Press, Shanghai, China, 2000
1994-1998 Chinese Artist• Luo Qi, Hangzhou, China, 1998