Li Hou
Li Hou, aka Xiao Sun, born in Shanghai in 1938. As a child, Li Hou learnt Chinese calligraphy and painting from his grandmother Tan Zhixiao (niece of Tan Sitong, a well-known politician in Hundred Days’ Reform of late Qing dynasty) and his father Li Da (pseudonym Wu Wo). Later on he became a student studying Western oil paintings under oil master Yan Wenliang. Li’s traditional ink artworks were well-established by the 70s but that did not stop Li. He believes traditional Chinese ink art should make appropriate adaptations with the new era so he started modern Chinese ink creations and made remarkable breakthroughs in this regard. That was when he started to focus on modern Chinese ink creations and made remarkable breakthroughs in this regard.
During the 80s, Li was already well-known overseas. In the 90s, Li was invited to Germany and the U.S., and returned to China eventually. For more than 20 years, he has been traveling back and forth between the East and the West. Li detailed his experience as, “The artworks that I observed and studied in the process, brought some inexplicable changes to me”. He also interprets his artworks as “To brim with joy is to be carefree”. As a matter of fact, Li was one of the artists committed to new ink explorations since Chinese economic reform in 1978. By uniting his solid Chinese ink roots and modern abstractionism, Li’s works are an illustration of a robust grandeur and his personal sensuality. Other than Chinese ink paintings, Li practices Chinese calligraphy as well, inheriting the admirable qualities from the Southern and Northern, Sui and Tang dynasties.
Li has held countless exhibitions at locations such as Hong Kong Arts Centre, Shanghai Art Museum, Germany, U.S., etc. Currently, he resides in the suburbs of Boston, MA, and travels to Shanghai occasionally. He enjoys jazz, practicing calligraphy and painting, and continuing the pursuit of his unique art form as a true free spirit.
Collection | ||
1991 | Christian A. Johnson Art Gallery, Middlebury College | VT, USA |
Solo Exhibition | |||
2016 | “Without Beginning Without End” Solo Show | Shanghai, China | Shanghai Gallery 22 |
2014 | “A Pioneer in Abstract Ink” Solo Show | Shanghai, China | Shanghai Gallery Europe’ART |
2010 | “Ink Tour in Universe” Solo Exhibition | Shanghai, China | Shanghai 800 Art Museum |
2006 | Select Work of Li Hou, Solo Show | Morrison, NJ, USA | Simon Gallery |
2003 | Solo Show | Shanghai, China | Duo Yun Xuan Gallery |
1990 | A solo show of works inspired by the Green Mountains of Vermont | Burlington, VT, USA | Frame of Mind Gallery |
1990 | The Tao of Nature – a solo exhibition of Taoist Philosophy series | Bonn, Germany | Dragon Gallery |
1988 | “Xiao Sun’s Modern Artwork” Solo Exhibition | Shanghai, China | Shanghai Art Museum |
Joint & Other Exhibition | |||
2019 | Ink Now 2019 - Li Hou, His World of Art | Taipei, Taiwan | Expo Dome, Taipei Expo Park |
2018 | “Beyond Ink”, A Joint Show of Contemporary Ink Painters | Shanghai, China | China Art Museum |
2015 | Joint Show | Shanghai, China | Shanghai Gallery Europe’ART |
2013 | Shanghai International Art and Science Exhibition | Shanghai, China | Shanghai Exhibition Center |
2009 | “Our Love”, a Group Show | Shanghai, China | Broad Gallery |
2009 | Shanghai Abstract Painters Group Show & Symposium | Shanghai, China | Angle Abstract Art Gallery |
2007 | 2nd Modern Art Dual Exhibition of Li Hou & John Ma | Shanghai, China | Xian Ren Art Gallery |
2006 | Modern Art Dual Exhibition of Li Hou & John Ma | Shanghai, China | Xian Ren Art Gallery |
2005 | Group Show | New York, NY, USA | Alp Gallery |
2001 | Group Show | Shanghai, China | Ri Yue Shan Gallery, Shanghai Art Fair |
2000 | “Conceptual Ink” Show | New York, NY, USA | Ethan Cohen Fine Arts |
1996 | Chinese Ink Group Show | Tucson, AZ, USA | The University of Arizona Museum of Art |
1993 | Joint Exhibition of Qiu DeShu & Li Hou | Shanghai, China | Lanxin Jewellery Antique |
1991 | “New Dimension in Chinese Ink Painting” Joint Show | VT, USA | Christian A. Johnson Art Gallery, Middlebury College |
1990 | “Landscapes, Figures, Flowers & Birds: Variations from China” Joint Show | Hong Kong | Alisan Fine Arts |
1987 | “A State of Transition-Contemporary Paintings from Shanghai” Joint Show | Hong Kong | Hong Kong Arts Centre Pao Galleries |
Directory | |
2005 | Selected into “Who’s Who in Shanghai Abstract Art” |
2004 | Selected into “Shanghai Independent Art Studios Guide” |