Hey ๐๐ป all, SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป๐๐ฉ๐ปโ๐จ๐จ๐๏ธ as an art lover is gonna sharing that the renowned humanitarian-artist Professor Lin Xiang Xiong ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ (โProfessor Linโ) & founder of the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery in Penang, presented his latest exhibition, โThe Vicissitudes of Lifeโ, at the historic Hรดtel de lโIndustrie in Paris ๐ซ๐ท from 10 to 13 Sept 2025
Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผis a renowned artist, entrepreneur & advocate for global security through art
As President of the Global Chinese Arts & Culture Association, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Art & a visiting Professor at Peking University, Professor Lin’s work crosses disciplines & borders, connecting ๐ Eastern & Western cultures
After leaving China ๐จ๐ณ for Singapore ๐ธ๐ฌ in 1956, Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ pursued art studies at the Academy of Arts (1965โ1968). Success in business, particularly in the mining industry in Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ, funded his travels, art remained his personal refuge & lifelong passion
His painting ๐จ ๐๏ธ style is a dynamic combination of abstraction, traditional techniques & contemporary social commentary, touching on themes such as climate change, war, forced migration & the human condition. Despite being involved in the commercial field, Lin has never neglected his commitment to art as a force for good ๐ฏ๐๐ป
Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ is an outspoken advocate of the power of the arts in promoting peace ๐๏ธ & unity ๐๐ป In 2016, he curated a UNESCO exhibition titled “Art for Peace โ Cultural Dialogue between East &/ West”, which calls on artists to rise โฌ๏ธ up as peacemakers, reduce โฌ๏ธ inequality & protect the planet ๐ These events resulted in important cultural dialogues that have been documented & archived by UNESCO
Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ has published numerous works, including 8๏ธโฃ collections of paintings & 27 volumes of essay & art criticism
This recent exhibition received strong support ๐ช๐ป๐๐ป๐ฏ from key French institutions, with former French President Franรงois Hollande ๐ซ๐ท๐จ๐ผโ๐ผ serving as Honorary Patron & former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin personally attending the opening
Featuring 25 original works by Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ, the exhibition explored 3๏ธโฃ themes ~ Anti-war, anti-poverty & anti-pollution & vividly embodied Professor Linโs vision of โArt for Peace ๐๏ธโ , a concept that transcends aesthetics & seeks to inspire moral reflection & intercultural understanding
During the exhibition, a high-level academic symposium was held, bringing together leading international scholars, philosophers & cultural leaders to reflect on โIntercultural Dialogue at the Crossroadsโ & โRebuilding the Concept of Peace through Artโ. Distinguished speakers included French writer & human rights activist Marek Halter, eminent philosopher & sinologist Franรงois Jullien, intellectual publisher Franรงois LโYvonnet, Swiss curator & sociologist Barbara Polla, special adviser to the President of the Arab World Institute Claude Mollard, cultural diplomacy advisor Yves Marek & retired French Air Force General รtienne Copel. Throughout the discussions, Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ shared his unique insights on the times, on art & on the essence of peace ๐๏ธ, sparking strong resonance & deep dialogue ๐ฏ๐๐ป
On 12 Sept 2025, the inaugural โLin Xiang Xiong Art for Peace Prizeโ ceremony was held with great success ๐ฏ๐๐ป The competition drew 1,883 entries from ๐ฏ countries around the world ๐, far exceeding expectations. This overwhelming response underscored the wide recognition of Professor Linโs ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ โArt for Peaceโ advocacy, echoing the common aspirations of todayโs world. Professor Lin announced that the award ๐ will be established as a biennial event, continuing as a major artistic initiative dedicated to peace ๐๏ธ
โThe Vicissitudes of Lifeโ Celebrates ๐ฅณ๐๐ the Transformative Power of Art in Dialogue, Reflection & Peace ๐๏ธ building
โThis exhibition is more of an awakening of thought than a presentation of art,โ said Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ
โEvery brush ๐๏ธ stroke is a testimony of time, a silent dialogue between past & present, pain & healing. Whether through the exhibition or the establishment of the Peace Prize ๐๏ธ๐, I hope art is not merely for admiration but can truly touch hearts ๐, serve as a bridge between cultures & awaken the soft conscience deep within humanity.โ
The exhibition also marks a milestone in Professor Linโs artistic journey & heralds the opening of the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery in Penang, scheduled for mid-Dec 2025. Covering 8๏ธโฃK square meters, the gallery will house Professor Linโs ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ major works & also providing a platform for emerging artists to pursue their dreams. It will stand as 1๏ธโฃ of the largest private art galleries in the region, strengthening Malaysiaโs ๐ฒ๐พ role as a hub of cultural diplomacy & intercultural understanding in Southeast Asia ๐
Through โThe Vicissitudes of Lifeโ , Professor Lin ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ once again demonstrates that art is a messenger of thought & conscience
With clarity, he advocates peace ๐๏ธ & as an artist, he chooses his own path through the soft power of culture, through words & through his brush ๐๏ธ to voice his deep concern for war, pollution & poverty
With art as his language, he calls upon fellow artists to join his cause, uniting their strength to speak out for peace & the future of humanity
