ILLUSTRATED:

Many years later, Zhang Xiaogang let out an emotional sign at the second sight of "Running Heigen" in the Longrun Art. "At last I found the work here!" It has been nearly a decade since he saw Zhou Chunya's creation in his studio last time. It was 1995 when the artist began to make creation with family member and Heigen as the elements for creation. Later "Green Dog" Series derived from Heigen as the prototype engendered an illusion of the viewer about Heigen's real color. "Running Heigen" created in 1995 is the artist's first batch of "Heigen" works, which includes the composite paintings of Heigen's Family as well as "Running Heigen", "Frisking Heigen", etc. No matter for artists or collectors including common viewers, the greatest value in the works lies in addition of "emotion".

A year before, in 1994, Zhou Chunya removed to No. 3, East Lane of Shaziyan on West Yulin Road, Chengdu and set up the studio for the first time. At that time living in Shaziyan were Zhang Xiaogang, He Duoling, Guo Wei, Shen Xiaotong, He Sen, etc. On the date of creating Running Heigen, the artists happened to dropped in. The artist's plump and solid Heigen without absence of flexibly aroused a considerable discussion among the visitors. At that time, all the present were fond of arts and also had plenty time to love arts. They were not so busy and were able to appreciate a piece of art for long time. Appreciation of these works had stimulated the artist's zest of creation. Thus both the artists and Heigen "flew up" - running resiliently and smoothly. Every stroke contains deep emotion. Meanwhile it is natural revelation, affectionate but not moody.

Fate reflected in the next painting is somewhat moody. Collectors back from abroad knew nothing about contemporary Chinese arts at that time and they began to get fond of Zhou Chunya's works. Affection at that time was not doubted. It was sincere and touching, because few Chinese bought works of contemporary Chinese artists. At that time, China was still the world of ink and antique calligraphy and painting. Though the price of the contemporary art works at that time is unbelievably cheap compared with the present price, few people could spend such large sum to buy art works at that time. Virtually, art works are permanently precious in any occasion!

In the painting album displayed in Beijing Opening Ceremony of Longrun Art, Zhou Chunya depicted that the reason that he could smoothly obtained money in Shanghai every time was later revealed that the boss paid him by the money of other painters. In order to collect Zhou Chunya's works, the collector had set up a gallery in Shanghai and then moved to Beijing. "Running Heigen" is the cover of this exhibition of opening ceremony - from No. 3, East Lane of Shaziyan to Longrun Art and then to Ravenel, Heigen has run for 12 years.

In view of the creat ion of Heigen, including derivative of later Green Dog Series, the talent of the artist has been proved by the time and his creation. From various artistic media we can read about different comments about the artist's style of creation, as well as his painting style, enjoyable feature, humanistic expression, international view together with Chinese tradition. Heigen, however, has entered a textual-recoded role in the history of fine art through the auction record he created and he has become one of the most famous Dogs in the history. Back to a painting itself, what touches or affect people is just Heigen's bearing, posture, response, together with outside background story, disseminating in people's mind and inherited in the history.