surrealism – Circle Foundation for the Arts

Liyuan Liu

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Liu Liyuan graduated from the Department of Dyeing and Clothing department at Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. She loves painting and began to learn it during her childhood. Liyuan has completed research on classical and modern art and has excelled in studying figure painting. Now living in Vancouver, Liyuan has studied under the famous oil painter Xue Yanqun and the Chinese painting and calligraphy master Liang Zhaotang for many years.

Liyuan is also engaged in the application work of art advancement to famous schools in North America, helping students apply for prestigious schools in North America and Europe and has many years of experience with a 100% success! Her students have won many awards in the World Cup Art Drawing Competition and continuously published professional art guidance articles in the media such as Metropolis Daily, Global Chinese News, Afar, and Altitude, as well as accepted personal interviews.

In 2017, Liyuan did personal interviews with the columns of Canadian City TV "Elegance" and "Dating in the City." At the same time, she has been invited to give lectures on the Canadian Chinese Radio "Art Special Interview" and "Live Broadcast of the Guidance Series of Prestigious Art Schools".

In 2021 and 2022, she participated in the Vancouver artist group exhibition with five works. Liyuan's oil paintings have won awards in Switzerland; her watercolor works have also won awards on online exhibitions in the United States; her works have also been published in the well-known French artist magazine "Circle Quarterly Art Review."

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Jeong-Ah Zhang

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Born, raised and based in Seoul, South Korea, Jeong-Ah Zhang is a contemporary artist specializing in painting. Working also with photography and mixed, Jeong-Ah Zhang pushes us to the edge of our ourselves and the world for deep meaning. Her surrealist paintings connect us to a world that exists inside-out and outside-in of our consciousness.

Jeong-Ah Zhang majored in fine arts at Ewha Women's University in Seoul. She has shown in five solo shows in Korea and the USA and participated in more that 60 group shows and art fairs in the USA, Korea, France, Italy, Spain, Japan and the UK. The artist has received 25 international awards and 15 in Korea.

"My life is my experiences, which are, in turn, the evidence of my life.

The oriental Buddhist philosophy that all things work mysteriously without a true substance is the basis of my work, but I am not a religious person. My life and art are based on my own philosophical thoughts and experiences. I am interested in the philosophy of reflections on all beings, and my works use symbols, metaphors and imagery in the metaphysical world to express phenomena such as the nature of life, or the principles of the universe.

The universe repeats the cycle of creation and extinction. And I think that the universe is the consciousness, unconsciousness, the borderland of consciousness, the five senses, awareness and the transubconscious state of mind. Therefore, I try to listen to all the conceptions of all things, have an open mind, and remember what resonates, and this is how I work. It's a soul resonance beyond the time frame. Basically, this means that I try to focus on the essence of life by establishing core values, and at the same time, I am trying to sublimate it into my works. Philosophical considerations on a visible world and an invisible world.”

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Carolyn Schlam

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"I am a figurative painter, sculptor, glass artist, and published author on art. In 2013, I was named one of the finalists in the Smithsonian Museum Portrait Competition, and my work, "Frances at 103" was exhibited at the Museum, and was subsequently acquired by the Smithsonian. My two published books on art include "The Creative Path: A View from the Studio on the Making of Art" and "The Joy of Art: How to Look at, Appreciate, and Talk About Art. I am currently at work on the sequel to the latter book, entitled "More Joy of Art: Keys to Understanding and Appreciating Art."

**THE JOY OF ART: HOW TO LOOK AT, APPRECIATE, AND TALK ABOUT ART (Allworth, Released 2020)**
*Available in hardcover, paperback and e book, in color including over 150 photographs*
This book is a veritable tool kit that will allow the reader to understand, evaluate, and speak about any work of art. It provides a working art vocabulary, general and specific criteria for analyzing works of art, many examples of approaches, genres, techniques, and works of art throughout history, and even a set of games and tests to test what you have learned. Used now in universities and sold in art galleries, museum stores, libraries and bookstores around the world, it has also been translated into three languages. An invaluable addition to your art library.

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Tong Zhou

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Tong Zhou was born in Baotou, Inner Mongolia in 1969 and lives in Shenzen, China. Zhou studied at the Li Keran Art Academy and Youth Art Academy. In 2010, Zhou studied contemporary oil painting at the Academy of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University, and completed the research course. He has been engaged in design work in Shenzhen and in Berlin, Germany.

"My artistic inspiration comes from curiosity and awe of the world. I found resonance from Balthus and Lopez told me "how to get the inspired". Sometimes listening to the providence, they give to me a present, the present name called art."

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Kaeko Mizutani

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Born in 1969, Osaka, Japan, Kaeko Mizutani is largely self-taught and began his practice in 1994.

Solo Exhibitions

1992.Nov./Rib of the moon, Awakening of the pupa/ Gallery field in Kyoto

1995.Mar./Fimale Voice/gallery View in Osaka

1999.Feb./Another perspective/gallery field in Kyoto

2000.Jan./Vague outline/gallery field in Kyoto

2003.Dec./Corruption and Pleasure /gallery Ami in Osaka

2005.Apr./Rondo of Memory/a-space newnew in Hyogo

2006.May/Utopia/gallery Paraiso in Osaka

2011.Oct./My Moth Story/gallery Paraiso in Osaka

2014.June/True Black/SELF-SO art gallery in Kyoto

2019.Nov./Solo Exhibition/Maison de la Nouvelle Aquitaine in Paris, France

2019.Dec/Alchemy/gallery B-dama in Osaka

Two-person shows

2003.Jul./Winder（＋ Takayuki Tomoi）/space SOU in Osaka, Japan

2011.Sep./Melancholia Omnibus/ Amane-dou gallery in Osaka, Japan

2014.Oct./Retina of Prepato（＋ Naomi Uehata）/ Variete HONROKU in Tokyo, Japan

2015.May/48 Erotic Styles（＋ Eiko Kamiyama）/ART COMPLEUCE in Paris, France

2016.Dec/Monochrome Stroll/gallery Paraiso in Osaka, Japan

2018.May/Eternal Forest（＋ Yuki Sato, Gallery I in Kyoto, Japan

Group Exhibits

Numerous shows Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Singapore, New York and Paris.

Commercial projects

2019./2012 Vintage Wine Label/Domaine de Viaud/Bordeaux, France

Awards

2021, January The 4th BLACK & WHITE Finalist, Art Room Gallery (Online gallery)

2021, February The 5th ANNUAL BLACK & WHITE Finalist, Fusion Art Gallery (USA/CA)

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Marju Must

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Marju Must is an Estonian artist born in Tallinn and currently lives and works in Helsinki, Finland. She graduated from Tartu Art College, Estonia with a BA (2017) in Painting and Painting Restoration. She has been on exchange studies in Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences' restoration department in Kouvola, Finland. There, after a second semester she completed thesis with Finnish artist, Kaapo Rissala, transferring to wallpainting restoration and conservation. In 2011, Marju graduated from the Euroacademy with BA degree on Interior Architecture.

Marju's art reflects her interest in human nature and emotions. Currently, her primary focus is on juxtaposing elements of reality with surrealism. Depicting a visual incentive and an emotion revived on the canvas are equally important for her. In her earlier work, she was more focused on depicting realistic details and developing technical skills, while lately her work has transformed into expressing emotional states in a freeer form of paint, with textures and layers.

Marju’s artwork has been shown in several exhibitions in Estonia. She has been participating in group exhibitions since 2012. Her first solo show "Painted Poems" took place in Võru Town Gallery in Võru, Estonia, where she illustrated poems with paintings. Marju has illustrated and had exhibitions about the children’s book “Story Cellar” in Saare Country Central Library and Orissaare Library, Estonia. Her first participation in an exhibition abroad, was the show "Fear" which took place online in Krakow, Poland 2021.

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HSIUNG YU

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What themes does your work involve?

My works involve the past, present and future, echoing the connection of distant things in time and space. My creative construction is based on future primitivism, combining codes, philosophy, literature, music and mechanical installation art. Blend and weave a world of strange and fantasy.

Describe your creative process.

I deal with my two states at the same time: one is the desire to move forward steadily and regularly, the other is trying to break through and find a world based on contemporary art Most of my works are series works. I love watching news about the discovery of new species and nature, such as Amami starry sky gizzard, tardigrades, blue dragons, sea god grass, etc. A future composition for painting, treat it as an out-of-print collection, an inspiration, a precious miracle every time.

What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?

For the five years from 2015 to 2019, I traveled to Europe at least 60 days a year. I've done art tours and visited 180 museums and galleries. My dream is to visit every art gallery in the world and my creations are exhibited and collected by art gallery around the world.

What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

A unique identification, with its own painting language, can infinitely create many spiritual symbols of truth, goodness and beauty without a headache, including a discerning mind and a pure soul. A work of art is great because we complete it with strong vitality and courage, and finally achieve the prayer of beautiful giving.

What is the role of the artist today?

I don't want to paint realistic surfaces of various species, the lines do not necessarily need to be delicate, sometimes blurred and sometimes clear, what I am depicting is the beautiful atmosphere of life. If I can lead the way, I'm sure I'll get feedback too.

Nathan Miller

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What themes does your work involve?

Today I am working on a new series that explores wild animals and indigenous human cultures from around the world. And while this series considers the stories, traditions and challenges that surround wildlife, it also emphasizes the need to protect and coexist with wildlife. This series celebrates both animals in the wild and indigenous cultures. Despite the history of conflict, as human populations increase and wildlife populations decrease, there will need to be a shift toward coexistence.

Describe your creative process.

When I begin a painting, I first do a significant amount of research on a topic. I learn more about the culture or species that I am depicting in my work. I create a digital mockup with many photos until I have a layout that I like. Once the mockup is complete, I begin sketching it out on gesso board. And only then, once the layout is ready, do I begin to paint. The painting can take many hours, weeks, and sometimes even months, to complete. It's a very meticulous process. Even when the painting is complete, the process continues with varnishing the art, preparing it for print and, finally, choosing the frame.

What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?

Humanity has been disconnected from the natural world for far too long. This outer and inner disconnection from nature is causing the world around us to fall apart. While we distract ourselves with our own pursuits, and as we place ourselves above all else, ecosystems disappear. Somehow, we must find a way to reconnect with the natural world, to appreciate the value of wildlife, and see ourselves as a part of the ecosystem. I find value in all emotional life, and I enjoy depicting that life in different scenarios. In fact, I’m particularly interested in stories that pertain to both animals and people.
I hope my work can, in some small way, help others value nature, animals, and the impact of narrative realism in art.

What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

I think art fell from grace in the 20th century. It was a period of rebellion from standards that took centuries to perfect. Wall accents were given more glory than thought provoking, masterful creations of genius and wonder. The juvenile and ridiculous were valued more than the beautiful and skillful. Today, fortunately, great art, I believe, is making a comeback. So, what is great art? I think great art is the art that requires time, practice, and energy to perfect. It's the art that is considered masterful, not because of a propped-up name due to gimmicks and fame, but because of standards of design, composition, color, light, dark, shape, and the nature of creativity, meaning, and thought-provoking emotion. Good art has elements of this. Great art has all of it.

What is the role of the artist today?

I can't say what the role of every artist is, because every artist has their own story and their own purpose. But I can say that one thing artists have in common is the desire to speak their truth through their art. Artists simply wish to create - to share what is in them or, perhaps, what comes through them. The challenge today is how much of an artist's work is genuine, and how much is a response to what's marketable. I don't fault artists for attempting to find a balance between the two. If art is a career choice, then it's important for the art to be marketable. The trick is to find a way to speak authentically through one's art in a way that resonates with a particular audience.

Lukas Kandl

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Born in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1944, Lukas Kandl graduated from the Prague Academy of Fine Arts and now lives in France. From 2002 to 2020, Lukas lead the “Visionirique-étrange” group of the Salon Comparaisons which exhibited every year in the Grand Palais in Paris. In 2006, Kandl led the creation of the international movement “Libellule, Contemporary Renaissance”. Ever since, he has given an annual theme and format to the artists of Libellule and launched a new collection.

The group started the first show in the Grand Palais in Paris at the “Art Capital fair – salon Comparaisons” and then the collection was circulated worldwide.

In 2020, Kandl began a large Libellule project, titled "Tribute to La Fontaine"; to have all the La Fontaine fables reinterpreted by the Libellule artists (246 fables) ready for the 400th anniversary of this great poet (08/07/1621). The project was done on time and shown in three different locations in 2021. The project was published in three volumes which included all texts and images.

"On January 2016, I realized my 1000th painting. As I loved the La Fontaine Fables project so much, I decided to reinterpret all the La Fontaine's Fables by myself. My goal is to have a book edited with my interpretation of the 246 fables for my 80th birthday."

Lukas Kandl has a notable career spanning 80 solo shows and participation in more than 500 group exhibits. The recipient of numerous awards, including the Golden Palm in the Art Festival in Brussels (Belgium), the prize of the national council at the International Prize of Monte-Carlo (Monaco), First Place Award at the Art Festival of Osaka (Japan) as well as a Prize by the European Foundation. Lukas Kandl has been elected as a member of the exclusive Copley Society in Boston (U.S.A.) and promoted Commander in orders of the European Star, as well as Chevalier du Tastevin at the Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy (France). In June 2019, Kandl received the Gold Medal of the A.S.L. “Arts Sciences and Letters” Academy.

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Symona Colina

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Symona Colina was born in 1954 in Ridderkerk, The Netherlands and has been actively showing her work internationally, including in The Netherlands, the United States, Italy, Spain, Belgium, England, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France. Symona lives and works in Italy.

"Perspective is a dance with colors and lines that follows a melody of outspread wings. Perspective is a meeting and a clash between length, height and width. Where I see the world inside of me. Where I see the world outside of me. Art has many interfaces with existence. It is all around in its countless disciplines. And nevertheless unlimited."

The interfaces employed by Symona Colina in the visual arts chiefly tie in with: 'spatial perception, spatial thinking and contemplation.' Through which infinity apparently comes within reach.