Jiawei Shen (b. 1948), artist, was born in China in 1948 and began to gain recognition as a painter during the Cultural Revolution. Largely self-taught at first, he eventually studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, where he became strongly influenced by his teacher Shangyi, China's most famous portraitist. Shen became a specialist in history paintings, many of which he produced for public collections. One picture, however – a depiction of heroes of the Chinese nationalist movement – necessitated his departure from China in 1989. His wife, artist Lan Wang, was pregnant when he left; it was two years before they were reunited in Sydney, where Shen met their daughter Xini for the first time. Having started out making sketches of passers-by at Darling Harbour, Shen is now a much sought-after portraitist and regular Archibald finalist, and has created work for clients such as the Vatican and Parliament House. Shen and Wang both have studios in Bundeena, south of Sydney.
Gary Grealy created diptych portraits of husband and wife, Lan Wang and Jiawei Shen, each holding a photograph of the other in their youth, referencing their homeland and separation. As the artist noted, 'I wanted to create a work that was about reflection and stillness.'
Purchased with funds provided by Dr Gene Sherman AM 2016
© Gary Grealy
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