一九八三年，我從南方讀研畢業回西安美院任教。是時，周勇正好從西安美院畢業。在西安美院油畫系的畢業展上，我通過作品結識了這位激情四溢的畫家周勇。

In 1983, I graduated with my MFA and became a professor at Xi’An Institute. At the time, Yong Zhou was graduating from the Bachelor’s program and exhibiting his works at the BFA Exhibition. This was when I was “introduced” to him, and through his artworks I knew immediately that this artist was overflowing with vitality.

值得一提的是，在中國恢復高考的早期歲月裡，社會上蘊積的人才能量十分巨大。許多優秀的美術人才如飢似渴地抓住了這個充電的機會，表現出了極大的學習熱情，也創作出了一大批至今看來也十分有價值的優秀作品。在這些作品裡，周勇的組畫吐魯番風情給我留下了深刻的印象。那是一組以新疆腹地的維族生活為題材的風景油畫。可以看出作者對生養他的土地的深沈眷戀和熟悉，也表現出了很好的油畫色彩功底。尤其是畫面上充滿交響詩般的澎湃激情，讓人過目不忘，只是當時我還不認識這位去了新疆的畫家。

What is worth talking about is that when China was just starting to reinstate its standardized high school test, society was filled with talent and potential. Many gifted young artists were starving for opportunities to test their creative abilities, which they did to hone their talent and craft. This hard work and dedication translated into what is now viewed today as high quality art. Among these, Yong’s Xinjiang series, “Tulufan’s Scenery,” made a deep impression on me. In these paintings inspired by people in western China, one can tell that he has a deep appreciation, love, and understanding for his hometown as well as a great foundation of painting technique and color theory. This becomes especially apparent when one views the combining of his symphonious passion and intensity. It is unforgettable. Unfortunately, when I had first seen his art, I had yet to meet the remarkable artist.

四年之後，周勇再次從他任教的新疆師範學院回到西安美院，師從諶北新教授讀研。諶北新先生是馬克西莫夫的學生，對藝術本體精神有著深刻的獨到見解。大師的教誨再一次深刻地影響了他的學生外表安靜，卻內心熱烈的周勇。一種強烈的追夢激情不時地凸顯在他豐富多彩的畫面上。周勇的畢業創作以十幅組合油畫完成了他的史詩交響。畫面激情依舊，但已經明顯地趨於更為浪漫的色彩團塊狀裝飾化的凝練，有了更強烈的藝術形式感和鮮明的個性。大紅門，白杏，綠雪，白夜，雙人體，鄉村遊戲等等，他這批多以色彩命名的作品也更符合他對大西北即快樂陽光又深沈蒼涼的切身體會。周勇的這組作品發表在中國最權威的雜誌美術上，獲得廣泛的好評。

Four years later, after a period of teaching at Xinjiang Normal University, Yong returned to Xi’An Institute to earn his master’s degree under the instruction of Professor Sheng Beixin. A student of Maximov, Professor Sheng Beixin has a deep understanding of painting and its underlying qualities. Under the influence of his teachers, Yong continued on his artist path, a quiet, unassuming student with an inner fire. Yong Zhou’s MFA exhibition contained ten of his original works, which were painted for his degree. This time, while his works still contained his youthful passion and strong joie de vivre, they had a mature quality that separates the average from the exceptional. His passion for the Silk Road and China’s western region were highlighted in his artworks “The Red Door,” “White Apricot,” “Green Snow,” “White Night,” “Bodies,” et cetera. They speak for themselves of the great artist he had become, reflecting the beauty of the real and his eye for the sublime. All of these works were then published in the premier art magazine of the time, Art, and acclaimed by peers.

1993年，周勇又以後20米長卷的新疆史詩畫卷榮獲聯合國頒發的世界環境藝術大賽優秀獎，並受邀前往紐約，舊金山，芝加哥等地舉辦個人畫展。1995年聯合國為他辦理了特殊人才身份的美國移民簽證。從此周勇又開啟了他尋夢之旅的全新篇章，置身於中西文化碰撞的前沿，時年他已屆不惑。美國的文化多元化而熾熱，這一點從某種意義上說正好暗合了周勇的內心波瀾。

In 1993, Yong Zhou won the prestigious United Nations Green Future Awareness award and toured the United States. In 1995, he was invited to move his family to the United States to chase his American Dream. At this time, he was already middle-aged. The United States was a melting pot of cultures, which suited Yong’s personality and his vast creativity. Naturally, his inspiration broadened to include his new home, expanding the breadth of his work.

他把自己的創作題材自然而然地擴展開來，鎖定在美國西部的陽光。曾先後創作了美麗家園西部放牧等重要作品，畫風更加奔放，色彩更加絢爛，有種宣泄式的痛快淋漓。加之更為夸張的造型處理，使他的作品具備了一種激動人心的力量。從1993年開始，在周勇的年表上幾乎每年都要舉辦個展，足跡遍及世界各地。他正努力把自己的系列組畫和美國一條由早期華工修建的橫穿東西的最長鐵路聯繫起來，形成一幅大型史詩交響的繪畫作品，壯懷不已。

His works now include paintings with the theme of the American Wild West, encompassing both figurative portraits and a new passion for landscapes. His style became more ambitious and free, his colors more exaggerated and vibrant. His painting, when gazed upon, touches the inner strength and deep joy of humanity. Currently, he is working on a series of works about early Chinese immigrants and their contribution to the American railroads.

中國古訓有讀萬卷書，行萬里路之說，一是案頭功夫的考量，二是人生見識的積累。周勇除了自身對藝術高峰不斷攀越之外，他同時也致力於推進中西文化交流的使命，努力推廣文化的精神和影響。

A Chinese proverb advises people to “read thousands of books and walk thousands of miles.” The proverb encourages dedication and perseverance as well as the accumulation of worldliness and understanding. Not only does Yong tirelessly and continuously work to improve himself and his art, he also pushes for continued educational arts relations between the west and east.

(周勇教授與郭北平教授，謝源璜教授合影）

 

2013年，周勇先後數度穿梭於中美之間，數度重返新疆腹地，並努力促成了一次跨國的中美畫家的巡迴交流展- 五月中國 著名美術家中美巡迴展，成功地在北京，美國新澤西和紐約聯合國總部等地展覽。展覽的高層次囊括了中國美協主席劉大為，中國國家畫院院長楊曉陽，名譽院長龍瑞以及當代中國院校一批實力派油畫家的作品，在美反應強烈。九月，展覽的最後一站是返回到新疆石油之城的克拉瑪依美術博物館。同行的畫家也包括從北京趕來的楊曉陽，大家歡聚一堂暢敘友情和巡展的感想。一次重大的跨國展覽應該說是功德圓滿。然而大家似意猶未盡，在周勇的提議下，在有限的幾天時間裡，畫家們又開始了一次緊張的采風寫生活動。我雖已略感疲憊，但見周勇那生機勃勃的創作熱情和筆下生風的作畫狀態，又一次感染了大家。我深知，作為旅美畫家的周勇是如何珍惜這次重返新疆的機會，他又一次如飢似渴地把握時機，他要把他的所見所感的生活激情換成作品，帶回美國。望著周勇那基督徒式的溫和，善良，真誠和執著的工作態度，我讀出了再塑人性之光的內在激情，也讀出了一個全心獻身藝術的尋夢的情懷。

In 2013, Yong Zhou built the relationship between Eastern and Western artists, resulting in a cross-national exhibition, called May – In China. After the exhibition, Yong supervised and encouraged Chinese and Chinese-American artists to embark on a trip to paint and sketch together in China. Yong’s exuberance for his art was infectious. In observing Yong’s Christian values and his kindness, gentleness, sincerity, and honesty, I felt the inner light and strength of life, and felt what a heart dedicated to art and dreams is like.

 

郭北平

Guo, Beiping

2013年10月17日

Oct. 17th, 2013

作者郭北平先生為現任中國國家畫院油畫院副院長

Mr. Guo is Vice President of Chinese National Academy of Painting