Interview
Rui Zhao
Painting beauty
At first glance, Rui Zhao’s landscapes shimmer with realism; detailed, serene, bright and carefully composed. But step closer and you’ll discover expressive brushstrokes, bold contrasts and a layered texture that reveals a deeper, more poetic vision. For Zhao, painting is not just a visual act, but a spiritual one. “When I’m painting,” he says, “I’m chasing the God.”
Born in Shenyang, China, Zhao's path to becoming a professional artist was anything but linear. As a young boy of five, he surprised his family by copying Chinese ink wash illustrations with remarkable accuracy. By fourth grade, he had already earned the title of “Little artist of Shenyang.”
A promising start cut short
Encouraged by a teacher from the LuXun Academy of Fine Arts, Zhao began private lessons in Western-style drawing and painting. “We focused on techniques – brushstrokes, composition, color – and also learned the expressive brushwork of traditional Chinese painting,” he recalls. But in 1989, political unrest interrupted his studies. Unable to contact his mentor, he was forced to abandon painting.
A return to the canvas
For the next three decades, Zhao followed a more conventional path; studying finance, becoming a banker and working through China’s economic boom. Painting became a distant memory. “For thirty years I almost didn’t touch my brushes,” he says. It wasn’t until his wife’s job brought them to the Netherlands that Zhao rediscovered his gift. “Suddenly, I had nothing to do. I felt old, useless. Then I realized: I can paint. Maybe this was God’s arrangement.” Now based in Brabant, the birthplace of Van Gogh, Zhao credits local Dutch institutions like NABK, the Nationale Kunstdagen and Art Eindhoven with helping him regain confidence. “Their recognition allowed me to start again,” he says.
Capturing spirit
Zhao’s current style blends figurative realism with the influence of classical impressionism, but not in the photorealistic sense. “From afar, my paintings may look realistic, but up close you see lines, textures, movement,” he explains. Inspired by artists like Gustave Caillebotte and Van Gogh, Zhao strives to capture both the spirit and structure of his subjects. “Van Gogh’s lines are a perfect balance of regular pattern and irregular variation,” he says. “Too much regularity becomes boring. The beauty is in the contrast.”
Order, intuition and natural lines
His process is precise and structured. He divides the canvas using a grid, begins with the sky and builds from the background forward. “Before I start, I look at masterpieces with similar subjects. I must know the best way first.” Zhao avoids rigid, rectangular strokes. Preferring organic, expressive lines. “In nature, without humans, almost nothing is perfectly straight,” he says.
Sunlit scenes in a shadowed world
Nature is his constant source of inspiration; not just for its beauty, but for its emotional resonance. “Art is about emotion. Painting nature brings happiness, and I want to share that,” Zhao explains. “Yes, we can express sorrow in art, but life already has enough pain. Painting should offer hope.” His landscapes – often sunlit scenes of Dutch fields, skies and towns – radiate warmth. “I have almost never painted views without bright sun and intense colors,” he says. “This is for the most vulnerable people. I want them to see: there are still beautiful things in this world.”
A quiet path
Despite his growing presence in the European art scene, Zhao admits to feeling isolated at times. “There are so few artists painting in the classical impressionist landscape style. My work seems old-fashioned. Sometimes I feel lonely,” he confesses. “But I no longer hope to be famous in my lifetime. If my works are preserved, recognition may come later, in fifty or a hundred years.” That said, Zhao continues to evolve. Lately, he’s been experimenting with integrating the Chinese Daxieyi technique – known for bold, calligraphic brushstrokes – with Western impressionism. “My style is becoming more diversified. That’s what keeps painting enjoyable.”
Painting with honesty
At the upcoming Europe Art Fair, Zhao will present new landscapes of the Netherlands. Some larger in scale, some with bolder strokes. He’s excited to share these with an international audience and appreciates every bit of feedback. “At Art Eindhoven, an artist told me my painting looked like a photo from a distance, but up close it had so many brushstrokes. That’s exactly the effect I want.” When asked about his goals, Zhao offers a quiet confidence. “I don’t know if I’ll become famous. But I’m sure my work will be recognized one day, because I paint with honesty, respect for the nature and the hope that beauty still matters.”
Written by Birgitta van der Linden, BLUSHtxt