李大木   Li, Da-Mu   1926~2002

Da-Mu Li, real name Du, formal name used at school Zhao-Pu, was born into a family of scholars in Yantai city, Shandong province, China, in 1926. He graduated from the Faculty of Chinese Language and Culture, Jinan Zhenhua Culture College, and then held the position of professor in the Department of Fine Arts, Chinese Culture University, and also served as the vice secretary of the Seal-Carving Association. Having a broad knowledge of traditional classics and history, Li’s father was good at poetry and literature and proficient in painting, calligraphy and seal-carving. Lu-Sheng Zhao, a painter from the same county, was one of his best friends. Da-Mu Li was indulged in the charms of art since childhood. Zhao took Li on a journey across the art world, putting his heart and soul into Li’s formation and laid a solid foundation for this young artist’s future development. Freehand drawing was the primary style of Da-Mu Li’s paintings. He used thick ink and heavy strokes to deliver the beauty of boldness and refinement, along with a vigorous and delightful style reminiscent of Bai-Shi Qi and Chang-Shuo Wu. The fusion of seal-carving and ceramics art made his works plain and humble, but full of aesthetics and distinctive personal touches. Ranging from regular script, cursive script, clerical script and seal script, Li’s calligraphy works exhibited extensive mastery. He was also eminent in the field of seal-carving. His seals incorporated the features of inscriptions on ancient bronzes and stone tablets, but he did not stick to old ways. On the contrary, he was able to break fresh ground and open new horizons.