Ma Kelu
Encyclopedia
Ma Kelu is a Chinese
painter. He first rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a member of the No Name Group, a circle of largely self-taught, underground artists based in Beijing
, who worked in direct contravention of the Chinese government's official sponsorship of Socialist Realism
. After the crackdown against avante garde artists during the "anti-spiritual pollution" campaign in 1986, he began to show his paintings in galleries in Berlin
, New York
, Boston
, London
, and Vancouver
. In 2006, Ma's work was featured in the No Name Group Retrospective in Beijing
, curated by internationally renowned Chinese art historian and critic Gao Minglu.
He has recently exhibited in galleries at the 798 Art Zone, and at Beijing's Yuan Center
.
While he began, like the other members of the No Name Group, to paint in the post-Impressionist style that was outlawed in China during the Cultural Revolution
, his later work tends toward minimalism and abstraction. He has also painted a recent series of large-scale landscapes in the classical Chinese style, that are then glazed over with a thick layer of wax to create an ethereal, distorted effect.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
painter. He first rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a member of the No Name Group, a circle of largely self-taught, underground artists based in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, who worked in direct contravention of the Chinese government's official sponsorship of Socialist Realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
. After the crackdown against avante garde artists during the "anti-spiritual pollution" campaign in 1986, he began to show his paintings in galleries in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. In 2006, Ma's work was featured in the No Name Group Retrospective in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, curated by internationally renowned Chinese art historian and critic Gao Minglu.
He has recently exhibited in galleries at the 798 Art Zone, and at Beijing's Yuan Center
Yuan Center
The Yuan Center of Art is a multifunctional arts center and gallery located in the Haidian district of Beijing, China. The center houses four large exhibition halls for visual art, an experimental theatre, conference and symposia spaces, and a restaurant...
.
While he began, like the other members of the No Name Group, to paint in the post-Impressionist style that was outlawed in China during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, his later work tends toward minimalism and abstraction. He has also painted a recent series of large-scale landscapes in the classical Chinese style, that are then glazed over with a thick layer of wax to create an ethereal, distorted effect.