Chinese master artist rings in CNY with ‘molten copper’ art

[Photo: Ricaela Diputado]

The exhibition, “Golden Fortunes: The Macau Debut of Zhu Bingren’s Copper Art,” was launched at Galaxy Macau yesterday, showcasing “flowing colors” in molten copper art, ringing in the Chinese New Year.

The exhibition features 68 pieces or sets of Zhu Bingren’s copper art, ushering in the Year of the Horse through his mastery of free-flow and moldless copper art, with some revealing the true color of the material used and others layered with paint.

Speaking to the media, Zhu said he has made several trips to Macau in the past, but this visit marked his first exhibition in the city. He said his initiative of “flowing colors” aims to promote cultural exchange and appreciation.

The Chinese artist noted that Macau has long been known as a gaming capital, but it does not fully represent the region’s identity.

“Macau is a place of diverse and valuable cultures. In this multicultural context, it should also be an ‘art capital,’ home to the world’s best art and exhibitions, becoming a global art center,” he told the press yesterday.

At 82 years old, he continues his family’s generational copper art and presented five different series at the exhibition.

He stated, “I am passionate about encouraging art and culture. For almost 5,000 years, copper has been cast in molds. All copper culture has been shaped within molds, confined under restrictions.”

He continued, “However, molten copper art, which I discovered on May 25, 2006, during a special event, allows copper to flow freely, fully expressing its nature. This creates unprecedented artistic forms, which I’ve transformed into artworks.”

The special event he mentioned occurred when he discovered melted copper caused by a fire that broke out at the Changzhou Tianning Pagoda. The copper shaped into beads and various forms, which inspired Zhu to practice the art of “molten copper.”

The first of the series is the “Year of the Horse Collection,” showcasing 38 horses with different aesthetics inspired by the Tang Dynasty, Western realism, and contemporary art, ranging from copper paintings to molded pieces.

The Qing Gòng Series is featured at the exhibition with collaborative works by Zhu Bingren and his son, Zhu Junmin. His son’s bonsai artworks were inspired by treasured Chinese ornaments and decorations.

A highlight of the exhibition is the copper peacock sculpture that presents his discovery of contemporary copper architecture, the free-flowing molten copper art. “This peacock – its feathers are made of molten copper, showcasing a free-flowing, spectacular, and romantic form. But this phoenix is like ‘flowing diamonds,’ a fluid version of diamonds, with diamond-like printing and texture,” he described the centerpiece.

Zhu noted, “This year marks the 20th anniversary of my creation of molten copper art –from 2006 to now. It’s significant that this anniversary begins with an exhibition in Macau, further promoting and recognizing molten copper art globally.”

Another series presented is the National Gift Series, including works that have been presented by China as national gifts.

To pay homage to Macau’s fishing village roots, Zhu created Macau’s Molten Light (Molten Copper Series), made without molds, revealing the natural textures of the metal. Art pieces include “Fisherman’s Song in the Rain,” “Sail,” and “Chinese Red, Chinese Dragon.”

Zhu also created a six-meter copper painting titled “The Eight Heavenly Horses” with a blend of Eastern and Western elements. It is a replica of a painting by Giuseppe Castiglione, an Italian Jesuit missionary and painter from the Qing Dynasty.

Other notable copper artworks at the exhibition include “Golden Bai Cai (Cabbage),” “Golden Pine, Gracious Host,” and “Eight Steeds of Qianlong – Chasing the Sun,” all aligning with auspicious New Year blessings.

He concluded with hopes for Macau to reach greater levels of development in art and culture: “I hope Macau’s culture, like the ‘flowing colors’ I promote, becomes multicultural and dynamic. May Macau’s spirit of freedom, openness, and progress flow onward, allowing people across China and the world to understand that Macau is continuously developing and scaling new heights.”

The exhibition will run until April 12 at GalaxyArt on the first floor of Galaxy Promenade. Ricaela Diputado