Awakening

Awakening draws inspiration from the textures of the lion's mane and form. Composed of up to 40 layers of oil and water-based paint in blue, the work evokes a majestic lion emerging from the landscape, reflecting themes of cultural identity, spiritual awakening, and the enduring vitality of Eastern aesthetics.

Commissioned by MGM in 2021 and included in the MGM Chairman’s Collection, Awakening is Liu Guofu’s largest and one of his most significant works. It was presented at Art Macao 2021: Macao International Art Biennale and later featured in Painting of Entropy: Liu Guofu Solo Exhibition (2026) at the Rothko Museum in Latvia. Through its exploration of color, space, and perception, the work echoes the compelling dialogue with the pioneering Abstract Expressionist master Mark Rothko, through the enduring power of painting.

More than depiction of a lion, it transforms the spirit of Chinese landscape painting into a contemporary visual awakening experience through a sentimental balance of stillness and strength, tradition and modernity.

Meet the Master