Artist Shize Li Presents New UBC Paintings
The paintings done in Chinese style express how the artist sees UBC campus
Our readers are familiar with—and have long admired the paintings of—artist Shize Li, a Hampton Place resident who paints pictures of UBC landmarks in Chi- nese style. The artist has painted the fa- mous Clock Tower at UBC, the entrance to Hampton Place and other UBC landmarks—paintings that have been published in The Campus Resident.
Readers have also enjoyed painting demonstrations by Mr. Li at many commu- nity events. Everyone who sees a painting by Mr. Li says how well it captures the vision of two cultures uniting the architectural style of the West with the artistic style of the East.
Mr. Li immigrated to Canada in 2013 at the age of 72. He is a retired associate professor of mathematics from Kunming University, China, and taught in the Department of Mathematics on projective geometry and differential geometry. He has found Canada a nice place to live, with good mountain views, clean water and fresh air, and friendly people. He has been very impressed by the level of respect people show to different cultures.
Daughter Claire Li says: “You can imagine how challenging it was to leave the home country and start living in a totally strange country at that age. However, he and my mom took the challenge as they would like to be closer to me and my family. Since then, he tried hard to adapt to living style here, even if he does not speak English (I am his interpreter and translator).”
Mr. Li learned Chinese style painting in 2001 after he had retired. “Flowers and birds are the things I painted at the begin- ning. It was for fun and making my life less boring. Then I found that it is a good way to get closer to nature, to know things, and to express my feelings.”
Mr. Li admires the great Western artist Renoir. “His paintings show a great passion for people and human kindness.” Another artist he likes is Li Zijian. “His paintings have such strong expressions of humanity and love that shock people’s minds.”
In the last few years, Mr. Li has added significantly to the number of paintings of UBC landmarks in his unique Chinese painting style. He recently produced paintings of the new Orchard student residence at UBC, Wesbrook Mall at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, the Koerner Library and other works.
Claire Li said of her father: “Now, he has a lot of friends at UBC campus, teaches painting class in community center, is a member of the community choir, and he even initiated an informal ‘tennis club’! I would like to say I seldom see somebody at his age who has done such a great job in a new country! And he still has quite a few plans to work on!”
- from The Campus Resident newspaper, May 15, 2018
Orchard Student Building
Garden at UBC
Wesbrook Mall
Chan Centre
Cherry Blossoms on UBC Campus
