非池中藝術網

一九五七年生於中國廣州。一九八〇年畢業於西安美術學院碩士。中國美術家協會會員，也是中國八五思潮在湖北省的參與者。曾任湖北美術學院油畫系教授，現為職業畫家。

畫風樸實無華，筆法講究，造型嚴謹，色彩沉著厚重，極有力度，以平實來表達深刻的含義，並達到經得起時間的考驗和十分耐人尋味的目的。寓深刻於筆觸之中，寄情感於畫面之內。從他的作品中可以感受到清新而寧靜的瞬間，讓活在喧囂現實中的人們，再度體會靜謐的美感，回歸人類純樸的本質。

自幼受到著名社會學、藝術學、人類學家岑家梧的影響，特別關注少數民族和普通大眾的生活習俗及生存狀態，並長期將其作為自己的創作母題。無論是在油畫或插圖創作領域，他都將人文關愛和莫大的同情注入作品之中。他畫中的人物往往屬於人類階級的最底層，但都表現得自在、自信和快樂。在今天藝術飽受市場經濟所奴役的時代，他的畫作無疑屬於另類，但其作品會引起人們對真實生活的關注和同情。他的作品使觀者看到淳樸的民風民俗，並得已瞭解到另一種有別流行於藝術市場的純正油畫語言。

藝術家自述

每當感到寂寞的時候，我仰望廣袤的蒼穹，眾多的繁星閃爍，似乎在說：別難過，我們和你在一起。由此我想起平日接觸過的那些人和動物們，他們善良美好的音容就如同星星的光芒，永遠溫暖着我的心靈，鼓勵我不畏生活的艱難，永往直前。這是造物主寶貴的恩典。我深懷感激之情，並以繪畫代替言語，作為一生對此的報答。

Chinese, born in 1957, graduated with a master’s degree from Xi An Academy of Fine Arts in 1980. Member of the Chinese Artists Association and an active participant in China’s Eighty-Five Art movement. A former oil painting professor at the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts. He is now a professional painter.

His signature artistic approach consists of a simple style, sophisticated brushwork, rigorous composition, and layered and solid coloring. These mastered techniques engender a strength to his paintings; each piece contains a deeper meanings beneath its various surface qualities. Together, these attributes express values that can withstand the test of time and captivate the imagination. His works evoke a sense of clarity and serenity to the viewer, encouraging those who are burdened by the hustle of modern life to re-experience the aesthetic of tranquility, to return to a more fundamental state of being. Due to the influences of his father, Mr. Cen Jia Wu, who was a renowned sociologist, art historian, and anthropologist, Cen Long pays special attention to the customs of ethnic minorities and the general public, which has become the foundation to his artistic inspiration. Whether through his paintings or illustrations of picture books, Cen Long always imbues his works with humanistic concern and compassion. The characters in his artwork are often those of a lower class, but they express confidence, genuine happiness, and ease in their demeanor. In our era where art is reigned by the economic demands of the market, his paintings are unquestionably different. His art causes one to consider a lifestyle marked by sincerity and exposes the viewers to the culture of everyday customs; with an alternative language of pure artistic expression that sits apart from the trend of the mainstream art market.

Self-portrait

When in the night loneliness passes over me, I gaze upward toward the wide firmament, studded with twinkling stars. They seem to encourage me in ceaseless dance, “Do not be sad,” they say, “for we are always with you.” And behind their distant solitude lies this warmth, a warmth which reminds me of many animals and people I have known, whose kind and tender disposition invokes these glittering stars, and who have always comforted me and encouraged me to face the struggles of life with firmness and composure. This unity, this solidarity which connects all of nature’s beings, is a blessing from the creator--and in return, I have dedicated my life to showing my gratitude through painting, and have approached each work as an homage to the eternal.