Theodora and Justinian II

About Theodora and Justinian II

Brushed swaths of mauve, pale pink, turquoise and deep yellow intersect with vigorous lines in grey and black to form a dynamic abstract composition in this 33 inch wide ink and acrylic painting on rice paper. The colorful forms created are suggestive of horses and figures – undulating between foreground and background to express a narrative. The title of this painting refers to Theodora, the powerful 6th century Byzantine empress who ruled the empire as an equal to her husband, Justinian I.

Born in Guangzhou, China, Lui participated in the Chinese Cultural Revolution as a member of the Red Guard 1968-70 and then escaped to Hong Kong by swimming. Making his way to Toronto he studied at the Ontario College of Art and became a citizen in the late 1970s. He continued studies in the UK, and Italy where he was drawn to the dynamic Uccello's Battle of San Romano (c. 1456). Lui is represented in multiple public, corporate and private collections in Canada, Europe and China: Musée d'art contemporain, Musée de Dijon, France, L'Ecole des Beaux Arts, Bruxelles, Pallazo Strozzi, Florence, Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Sherbrooke, Grimsby Art Gallery, Robert McLaughlin Art Gallery, Art Gallery of Stratford, Stratford, Coburg Art Gallery, Rodman Hall Art Centre, Canadiana Foundation (Art Collection of Governor General of Canada). He is part of a large number of private and corporate collections, including HSBC of Canada, DKNY and Sun Life Insurance. CATALOGUE AVAILABLE.