Shek Ming Simon Kei
By Ji Shuoming | June 2025
On June 7, 2025, London will host a captivating artistic event that brings together the elegance of Eastern aesthetics and the dynamism of modern abstraction. Acclaimed Chinese painter Li Muyao is set to launch her global touring exhibition, offering a powerful cultural dialogue through her unique visual language.
Nicknamed a “visual philosopher who weaves Western architecture with Eastern threads,” Li Muyao has garnered widespread attention for her striking oil and ink paintings. Her works are more than visual expressions—they are soul reflections that carry deep emotional resonance and philosophical depth.
A Rising Star in the Art World
Earlier this year, her oil painting Sydney Opera House fetched 1.01 million RMB at the Beijing Poly Auction, while her Chinese ink painting Shaolin Scenery was sold for HKD 350,000 at the 2025 CITIC International Spring Auction in Hong Kong. As a female artist who fluidly navigates between bold Western oil painting and delicate Eastern ink traditions, Li Muyao is establishing herself as a truly cross-cultural voice.
Her upcoming London exhibition at Linjiang Banquet will feature both oil and ink works. Fusing distinctive compositions, poetic color palettes, and brushwork techniques rooted in Chinese heritage, Li offers viewers a space where East meets West, and emotion meets landscape.
Inheriting the Legacy of Xu Beihong
Li Muyao trained under Dai Ze, a student of modern Chinese master Xu Beihong, making her part of a prestigious artistic lineage. Xu was known not only for his technical innovations but also for his cultural spirit—preserving Chinese tradition amid 20th-century upheavals.
“Xu Beihong didn’t just introduce Western techniques,” Li says. “He also protected the traditional arts of masters like Qi Baishi and Li Keran. That sense of cultural responsibility shaped me.”
Li Muyao draws inspiration from Van Gogh, echoing his belief that true art must arise from within:
“I cannot paint according to others’ expectations—I can only paint from my soul.”
For her, art is not a market product but a mirror of the artist’s internal state. Each piece—whether oil or ink—emerges from a specific moment in her emotional life.
From Freehand Expression to Cross-Stitch Precision
In her early work, Li embraced a freehand oil painting style, favoring expressive brushstrokes and sweeping forms. Her debut series of oil-painted nudes featured abstracted, elongated figures that echoed Botticelli’s Birth of Venus:
“Lengthening the neck created a sense of nobility—the divine aura of the goddess.”
Later, Li turned to cross-stitch embroidery from the Tang and Song dynasties for inspiration. Incorporating its precise linear patterns into her oil paintings, she developed a meticulous yet emotionally resonant visual language.
Her signature piece Sydney Opera House blends deep ocean blues with graceful lines and symbolic figures—two angels gazing at the sea, blending reality and myth. The painting exemplifies Li’s East-West fusion, and its auction success affirmed her rising status.
A Bold Leap Into Traditional Chinese Ink Painting
Though her foundation lies in oil painting, Li Muyao considers her shift to traditional Chinese ink painting a natural evolution. She studied calligraphy and classical brushwork intensively to make this leap—an uncommon move among oil painters.
Her ink paintings retain classical elegance while incorporating modern sensibilities. In Shaolin Scenery, vibrant greens and layered brush techniques bring the Shaolin Temple’s tranquil landscape vividly to life.
“The soul of a Chinese artist lies in ink. For me, this is the continuation of my artistic life.”
Her color philosophy also matured—from melancholy blues to vibrant purples and urban palettes. “Purple,” she says, “carries mystery and poetry. It helps me elevate architecture from physical structure to emotional symbol.”
The London Chapter: A Visual Conversation with the City
Themed “A Dialogue Between the East and the World”, Li Muyao’s global tour has already reached Jakarta and Hong Kong, with London as its European centerpiece. There, she will debut new works that reflect both iconic London landmarks and Chinese artistic traditions.
“I admire London’s gentlemanly spirit. I want to capture its unique energy and have a conversation with the city through my art.”
Architecture plays a central role in her practice. In London, she was drawn to Victorian buildings, abstracting them in flowing, cross-stitched brushwork. New pieces will feature landmarks like London Bridge, the London Eye, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, along with elegant floral compositions of English roses and tulips.
Critics praise her for successfully bridging “traditional Chinese craftsmanship and modern visual language,” creating a style that’s both historically grounded and boldly contemporary.
Art as Cultural Dialogue
Li Muyao’s vision extends beyond the canvas. She hopes her art can become a medium for international cultural exchange:
“I want more people to see my work. If it enters auctions and museum collections abroad, it can help Chinese culture reach further across the world.”
For Li, art is not only a personal calling—it is a way to speak across time, space, and culture. Her journey blends heritage and innovation, creating a contemporary Chinese voice with global resonance.
Her London exhibition promises to be a highlight of this tour—a vibrant meeting of tradition, architecture, emotion, and imagination.
About the Artist: Li Muyao
Li Muyao (born Li Li), also known by the courtesy name Cheng and the pseudonym Muyao (or Yi Qing), is a contemporary Chinese painter and writer. Born in Yunnan and raised in Chongqing, she now lives and works in Beijing. A protégé of Dai Ze and third-generation inheritor of Xu Beihong’s artistic lineage, she is known for her “intellectual femininity” and multidisciplinary approach to art and literature.
Li has over 5 million followers on Weibo, and her published works include art albums and the essay collection Beautiful Waiting (People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, 2010). Her paintings are held by collectors and institutions across China and beyond.
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