Spotlight On Cao Yong Editions

Art Business News, April, 2001 by Julie Keller

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.-- Though his publishing company was founded only a year and a half ago, artist Cao Yong has a story that could fill many lifetimes.

He was born into poverty and political chaos in China in 1962. He started painting as a child to escape the persecution imposed upon him and his family by the government. Despite many hardships, including discrimination, selling his clothing and skipping meals for art supplies and having his portfolio and money stolen on the way to take the entrance exam for college, he was eventually accepted at Henan University. He received his B.F.A. in 1983 and volunteered to go to Tibet to be an art teacher.

He spent seven years in Tibet immersed in the cultural and natural beauty of the isolated highlands and even smuggled himself to Nepal to get a taste of freedom. His experiences inspired a series of paintings entitled "The Split Layer of Earth: Mount Kailas," which presented the taboo subject of the region's social and spiritual struggle. He showed this work in Beijing in 1989, and it garnered interest in Beijing art circles and attracted attention of international press. His success raised red flags with Chinese authorities, and police shut down the gallery and confiscated and burned his paintings.

This experience prompted Cao and his fiancee Aya Goda to flee China for Japan. Their turbulent, often-life-threatening, eight-month journey was recorded in Escape, an award-winning book by Goda.

"An artist can not just paint by hand, he must paint by heart," said Yong. "My experience in China has enabled me to understand the world and people in depth and breadth. It has also developed the genuine appreciation of sincerity, kindness and beauty, which are what I am trying to express in my paintings."

In Japan, Cao continued to paint while working several part-time jobs to survive in the free-market economy. Eventually, however, he became a leading mural artist, and his other work caught the interest of several prestigious galleries, museums and the Japanese press.

Inspired by his success and looking to grow, Cao immigrated to the United States in 1994 and traveled throughout America to gain inspiration for his work and to discover the country's landscape and people.

Due to his success in America--his work was sought out by many collectors, and some original paintings were sold at auction at Christie's--he founded the publishing company Cao Yong Editions Inc. in 1999. "I never thought about self publishing until the time when many collectors asked for one or another painting which had already been sold. I decided to create this company to satisfy the needs of my collectors and to bring my art to as many people as possible," said Cao.

Over a period of 15 months, Yong released "The Golden Coast," "The Romantic Garden" and "The Venice" series, and more than 150 galleries nationwide have become authorized carriers of his work. Most recently, Cao released "Deja-Vu of Venice" from "The Venice" series and published a 40-page catalog. He is also working on a new "Hawaiian" series.

Even Cao himself is often amazed by the rapid growth of his company, which has moved twice due to expansion. As for the future, Cao hopes to continue on the path of growth the company is already on. "I am thrilled by the public reaction to my art. We are now concentrating on quality control in every aspect, because I want to provide the first-class product to thank my collectors," he said, adding that the company is also looking to expand into the Japanese market. Currently, three companies carry his work there.

Indeed, as his company grows, Cao hopes to maintain the spirit that has taken him through the trials and tribulations of his challenging life. "When I paint, I always pour all my passion and vision toward the world onto the canvas," he explained. "My new country embraced me with such warmth that for the first time in my life I started to see a world filled with beauty and joy. And I feel so closely connected with my collectors and audience. I believe that people who are excited about my art are in fact sharing with me the sheer joy of my heart."

FACTS & FIGURES

* In spite of years of poverty and political chaos in China, artist Cao Yong has found success as a painter and publisher.

* Cao Yong Editions was founded in 1999, and Cao's work is now available in more than 150 galleries nationwide.

* Up next for Cao is his "Hawaiian" series and expansion into the Japanese art market.