Zhou Dachu
Zhou Dachu is a calligrapher and painter. Born in Shiqi, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province in December 1944. He has been passionate about calligraphy and painting since he was a child. He studied under the famous oil painter Huang Minzhi when he was young. When he was young, he began to learn traditional Chinese painting techniques. He also followed Yu Ju'an, a famous calligrapher, painter and seal carver from Lingnan, and devoted himself to studying landscapes, flowers and birds, seal cutting and ancient painting appraisal. He is good at painting fish and lotus, as well as landscape painting, and epigraphy and calligraphy. His painting style is fresh and elegant, combining boldness and freedom with fine brushwork. His paintings have been held in art exhibitions and joint exhibitions in the province and various regions for many times. Zhou Dachu is currently the president of the China-Costa International Cultural Exchange Association, the president of the Zhongshan Association, the president of the Costa Rica Association for the Promotion of China’s Peaceful Reunification, the first vice president of the Association for the Promotion of China’s Peaceful Reunification in Central and South America, and the permanent honorary president of the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Federation.
Chinese name: Zhou Dachu
Nationality: Chinese
Ethnicity: Han
Birthplace: Shiqi, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province
Date of birth: 1944.12
Occupation: Calligrapher and painter
Main achievements: Paintings have been held in many art exhibitions and joint exhibitions in the province and various regions
Representative Works: "Qijiang Arts and Crafts Society"
Occupation
But painting is not Zhou Dachu's only occupation. In 1963, he founded the Lianfeng Arts and Crafts Society in Shiqi, engaged in advertising and decorative art design, and successively established six or seven district-run enterprises, including a plastics factory and a stationery factory. Only in his early 20s at the time, he already enjoyed a high reputation among his peers. After the Cultural Revolution, he immediately embarked on a pioneering and innovative path to explore and prosper the art of Chinese calligraphy and painting. He founded the "Qijiang Arts and Crafts Society" to exhibit and sell calligraphy and paintings by modern Chinese masters, accept paintings from foreign merchants, and set up painting workshops to cultivate artistic talents. Taught nearly a hundred disciples.
In 1980, Zhou Dachu came to Costa Rica, a beautiful country known as the "Garden of Central America". Here, he still attaches equal importance to literature and business. While running the "Yueyuan Bar" and "Taishan Restaurant", he is also engaged in artistic activities. He opened a ceramics workshop, established a Chinese art center, taught Chinese painting, exhibited Chinese paintings and calligraphy and handicrafts, and promoted Chinese culture. He has held personal art exhibitions in Colombia, and was invited to participate in the exhibition of works of Zhongshan artists, the 13th Taiwan Art Exhibition (winning the Outstanding Work Award), the Malaysian International Ink Painting Exhibition, and the joint exhibition of works of famous Chinese calligraphy and painting artists in New York. At a calligraphy and painting exhibition held in Costa Rica in 1997 to celebrate Hong Kong's return to the motherland, one of his paintings, 5 meters long and 1.2 meters high, showed 97 carps jumping for joy, expressing his joy and the joy of Chinese people around the world celebrating Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
This joyful mood comes from the love for the motherland and the pride generated by the development and strength of the motherland.
International Contribution
Costa Rica has not yet established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Over the years, due to political factors, China's image there has often been distorted. Overseas Chinese status has also been marginalized. The word "China" is a taboo word for overseas Chinese in social circles, let alone talking about "patriotism" openly. This situation couldn't help but cause Zhou Dachu to think deeply. In 1992, he and a group of like-minded young people initiated the establishment of the Guangdong Association, and started a series of activities in 1993. Organized overseas Chinese to launch an all-overseas Chinese signature campaign to support Beijing’s bid for the Olympics; planned the overseas Chinese community to participate in the local carnival and won the championship twice with the "Leaping Colorful Dragon" and "Chinese Panda" large floats; planned and held a large-scale commemorative party for the 50th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War ", "Hong Kong Return Celebration Party", "Macao Return Singing Party" and other large gatherings; in 1999, the "Party to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China" was held, singing the national anthem and raising the five-star red flag in Costa Rica. .
These activities not only spread the friendship of the Chinese people, but also enhance the image of the Chinese in Colombia. Under the influence and drive of Zhou Dachu, various overseas Chinese associations in Colombia came into being, such as the Zhongshan Association, the China-Colombia International Cultural Exchange Association, the Chinese Chess Association, the Chinese Research Association, and the Chinese Writers Association in Colombia.
In November 2000, with the joint efforts of everyone and the strong support of the Patriotic Overseas Chinese Association, the Costa Rica Association for the Promotion of China's Peaceful Reunification was formally established, with Zhou Dachu serving as the president.
In order to promote Sino-Costa Rica trade and open up Costa Rica’s market for Chinese goods, Zhou Dachu resolutely stopped his operating restaurant business and turned to importing Chinese products. Since then, daily necessities, food, health products, handicrafts, cheongsam clothing and even home appliances marked "Made in China" have continued to enter Colombia. He also encouraged overseas Chinese to import Chinese products and contacted Colombian people to do business in China. In 1997, when Long Yongtu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, went to Costa Rica to participate in the "South-South Conference" organized by the United Nations, he personally wrote an inscription for the "Daheng Trading Company" he ran. This calligraphy treasure has now become the company's golden signature. Today, Daheng Trading House has developed many chain stores in the capital of Colombia.
Position
In 2001, he was invited to attend the "New Century Overseas Chinese Associations Conference" held by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council in Beijing. In 2002, he was invited to attend the 9th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as a representative of overseas Chinese. the fifth session of the session. As a pioneering figure of patriotism and dedication among overseas Chinese in Costa Rica, Zhou Dachu is drawing a new blueprint for tomorrow in his heart.