Sunday, June 10, 2018

Realistic Chinese art of Lao Shi Caesar Cheng




Sometime ago, we chanced upon the Chinese paintings of Caesar Cheng at an art exhibit. His introduction read, "Quiet and self-effacing, Teacher (or Lao Shi) Caesar Cheng cringes at the thought of having someone call him master."

Lao Shi means teacher and he is best known for traditional and Lingnan styles (a region south of Guangdong). His artwork is more realistic than symbolic. It is a bit different from the one stroke Chinese techniques I've seen.

China Daily explains, "Lingnan comprises a collective of Guangdong painters who emphasize life and nature, and have created a new Chinese art movement by instigating a synthesis between East and West."

Cheng taught at Ateneo de Manila University's Confucius Institute. He has won a few national art awards and has participated in group shows in both China and the Philippines.

Contact information was provided for those interested to know more about his work. Cellphone number 0927-418-6644.

Sunflowers symbolize long life and good luck.


















This church and kalesa scene has Chinese-Filipino inspirations coming from Binondo.

Looks like a crane but it is sometimes confused with the heron. Cranes fly with necks outstretched and they graze on wetlands.


Not sure if the Philippine eagle eats rabbits. From what I learned, they eat civets, monkeys, bats, birds, snakes, lizards, and maybe other wild animals. Nevertheless, this eagle is very rare.

Peacocks are beautiful. His artistic style incorporates many details such as the feathers that are similar to Western style paintings.