Cute pandas, arrogant red foxes, proud eagles, smart golden monkeys...

　　All lively animals sketched with delicate brush become a magical "animal world". Liu Zhong, council member of the China Artists Association and director of its International Department, is so keen, even obsessed in painting animals. Since the age of 4, he has created countless works on animal themes, due to his passion about animals from heart.

　　In his childhood, Liu Zhong lived with his grandmother in Xi'an for a period of time. The folk traditional art such as paper-cutting and dough figurine by his grandma left a deep impression in his mind. In addition, he was profoundly influenced by his family as his parents were painters. At the age of 6, Liu Zhong won the first prize of the National Children's Painting Competition with the Night Scene of Beijing Hotel and Big Rooster, showing his talent in the artistic perspective. Liu Zhong said frankly: "The life in the countryside is most close to nature. I have raised many poultry, also raised fish, chickens, dogs, cats, and even hawks and snakes. Later I returned to Beijing and my parents took me to the zoo. The animals were so marvelous, I just want to talk to them and record their emotions." Since then, he has a special bound for painting animals, ranging from lions and zebras to small pigeons and domestic cats. Rare as pandas and rhinos, common as cows and goats, they have turned into elves with emotions under Liu's pen. He said: "I have deep feelings for each of them."

　　Regarding the animals portrayed by Liu Zhong, they are quite different from those by common method of expressing emotions via the objects in Chinese painting. He never materializes the animal, but only presents the original forms. Through the portrayal of their eyes, the animal is presented with different characters, tame, ignorant, naughty, smart and lively, most easy to identify. Liu Zhong said: "Art comes from life, the painter must paint from emotions what touches his heart. I love painting animals since I was a child, but, I also want to appeal to everyone to protect animals, their living environment and the natural ecology. The living environment of animals is also the eyepiece for environmental protection. I hope that they can live in harmony with human beings on the earth, depending on each other and living endlessly."

　　Among all the animals, his favorite is panda. A glimpse at the zoo would take you to its dark eye circles, black and white fluff, cute and amazing. Since then, he has created an incomprehensible relationship with the panda. Liu Zhong's obsession with pandas is no less than Qi Baishi's painting of shrimps and Xu Beihong's of horses. When talking about the reasons, he said: "The giant panda has lived on the earth for at least 8 million years and is known as 'living fossil' and 'national treasure of China', it represents the origin of life, and, at the same time, it is exclusively owned by China. The black and white fur color is very similar to the traditional Chinese culture of Tai Chi, as the gentle image symbolizing peace. In other words, the panda represents Chinese culture, the spirit and the country's image." 

　　In 2008, Liu Zhong created the work Rise after the Wenchuan earthquake, a panda climbed up a red stone, and his eyes firmly looked into the distance. He combines the two typical Chinese elements of panda and Shoushan stone together, employing the traditional ink language, red representing China and perseverance, and panda the Sichuan. It not only demonstrates the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation, but also encourages the people in the disaster-affeoted areas to rebuild their homeland. The work also indicates the firmness and self-confidence of the rising China in the face of challenges and the belief in the success of the Beijing Olympic Games. Rise, named by Liu Zhong, implies the implication of rejuvenation. In 2009, Liu Zhong was invited to participate in the 53rd Venice Biennale. The work YONG appeared in the exhibition, a giant panda sitting on the red rock against the audience, leaning slightly and looking into the distance. The panda's cuteness and embarrassing look make people wander with spreading thoughts. Why is the panda sitting against the audience? Liu Zhong explained: "Because I feel that the pandas facing away from the viewers are leisurely and self-satisfied, and not disturbed by the world, just like our developing China, advancing with a peaceful attitude." A brand-new perspective shows the world a harmonious China with tolerance, selfconfidence, low-key and abundance. Meanwhile, it shows the style and charm of Chinese painting to the international art circle. In 2015, amid Beijing's full bidding to host the 24th Winter Olympics season, Liu Zhong was invited to create a largescale panda work Seven Pandas in the Snow, with the Great Wall as the background, symbolizing Beijing's bid for the Winter Olympics, seven cute pandas playing in the snow scene of the Great Wall, symbolizing the seven major snow sports events of the Winter Olympics. Liu Zhong said: "2019 is the 150th anniversary of the scientific discovery of giant pandas. I want to continue the theme of pandas and use them, such a popular 'world language', to tell the world about the beautiful and moving stories of China."

　　In addition to being considered as a painter, Liu Zhong possesses another important identity – the honorary director of Chengdu Panda Post Office of Sichuan Post, and the honorary director of the post office of the Great Wall of Hebei Post. He has designed and distributed many sets of themed stamps and postcards with China Post –I Love the Great Wall, Double Treasure, Cherishing Environment, Harmonious Coexistence , Giant Panda etc. Each unique piece is widely appreciated, reflecting his passion for animals and deep affection for nature. Liu Zhong said: "Stamps and postcards are a national card with great nationality. Through stamps, they can demonstrate China's long history and colorful culture and art. Meanwhile, featuring function of emotional transmissions, the stamps are not so expensive, resulting in close connection with the common people."

　　Employing ink and rice paper as the basic medium, linings for modeling while absorbing Western style and realistic techniques, Liu Zhong's animal-themed paintings use children's intuition to perceive nature and society, and the artistic languages with great Chinese humanistic spirit to expresses the deep and broad life emotions and ultimate concern for people and nature. The famous critic Shang Hui once comments: "Liu Zhong's interest in animal subjects is due to his attempted childlike heart. He perceives the world of the magical human friends with an aesthetic vision of imagination and exploration, and profound curiosity. And this respect for wild animals is undoubtedly a kind of extension and sublimation of the humanistic spirit in the world of human friends."