An Artist's Kindred Spirit

My collaboration with Mr. Schoeni lasted for almost ten years. Many things that happened feel as though they happened only yesterday. I did not feel him pass away. It was like yesterday when we last met each other. Yet, Mr. Schoeni has really left us. Now together we commemorate him and his contribution to the promotion and introduction of Chinese oil paintings and his artists.

With his unique artistic insights and judgment, Mr. Schoeni kept on looking for talented artists in the mainland. Through his great efforts he gradually introduced these artists to the international arena, making more and more international art collectors aware of China, her oil paintings and her artists. His working attitude was extremely serious and cautious. He respected the creativity and technique of every artist. The artists who collaborated with him all had different styles, yet he enjoyed and understood the works created by every one of them. This explains why he was able to successfully promote and introduce Chinese works of various artistic styles overseas. In our numerous conversations, I felt that his interpretation and appraisal of my work fitted my expectations. The greatest solace for an artist is to meet a kindred spirit. Mr. Schoeni was my kindred spirit in art. We often discussed issues concerning art. His perspectives and opinions inspired me greatly. When we last met, we touched on a lot of issues regarding painting. What surprised me was that he was so articulate about things that one can only normally feel but not describe in words.

If you did not know Mr. Schoeni well, you might think that he was a very serious person, even too serious sometimes. It is a fact that when he was working, he was very serious, cautious, attentive to detail and very devoted. Once his work was done, he became very light-hearted and humourous. It was so happy chatting with him. He always said, "I'm happy now". What impressed me most was his optimism and his progressive thinking both in life and work. To him, no problem was too complicated that it could not be solved and no difficulty too great that it could not be overcome. It seemed that nothing could stand in his way. Mr Schoeni was a man with firm beliefs - belief in his career, his art and his artists. He was a success, of that there is no doubt.

Though Mr. Schoeni has left us, his efforts will prevail. We will continue to produce more and better works as a way of remembering him. Let us remember him forever.

Zhang Li
July, 2004