Bullfighting is a modern public art form that inherits ancient sacrificial rituals and theatrical performances, and a re-enactment of the primal struggle between human men and male animals. The bullfighters embody courage, glory, and danger, showcasing the breathtaking, dramatic moments when humanity confronts death and the forces of nature—a process both thrilling and brutal. The curiosity and fascination with this performance spirit has inspired the creations of many renowned artists and writers, such as Goya's series of prints, Picasso's countless paintings of bulls throughout his life, and composer Bizet and novelist Hemingway, all of whom have etched bullfighting into their souls. Now, it is the turn of the young Chinese female artist Li Ruoheng, who will add a vibrant touch to this magnificent theatrical and artistic language. What surprises and delights will this female artist from the East bring to the theme of bullfighting?

Returning from the battlefields of Palestine, artist Li Ruoheng, as a "female odyssey," traveled to Spain in 2024 and was immediately captivated by the bullring. After in-depth interactions with several renowned bullfighters, she gradually came to understand the intimate, life-and-death bond between them and the bulls. In the moment the bullfighters leap to stab the bull, she saw the immense passion of humanity and animality at the brink of life and death—that gushing blood should be absorbed into painting, becoming its soul! This simultaneous danger and brilliance, isn't it the essence of art? Isn't it life's most moving and dazzling moment? Like the profound truth of life that Picasso grasped in his youth. In 2025, Ruoheng created the monumental bullfighter series, "To the Bullfighter, A Letter from the East," which was exhibited at the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. She became the first female artist from the East to hold a solo exhibition at the bullring since its construction in 1931. The series was also exhibited in Bilbao, Spain.

In terms of subject matter, Ruo Heng focuses on the individual figures and postures of bullfighters from different countries, including Spain, Mexico, France, Colombia, and Peru. By incorporating their respective national histories, the personalities of each bullfighter are dramatically highlighted, as if their inner worlds are unfolding before our eyes. The paintings concentrate on the most precise and elegant moment when the bullfighter greets the bull, that life-or-death struggle, drawing the viewer into the captivating illusion within the bullfighting cape.

Regarding the bullfighters' costumes and ornamentation, Ruo Heng skillfully integrates the decorative beauty of ancient Chinese patterns and biological cosmic imagery into Western mystical motifs. For example, the hummingbird totem represents the sky, symbolizing the beauty and agility of life, while fallen leaves and tree trunks represent the earth, symbolizing the cycle of life and its ceaseless power. These patterns are derived from and respond to Peruvian culture's pursuit of the essence of life—beauty, freedom, and the eternal cycle—as well as the mystical allure of the monarch butterfly. Just like the bullfighters' performance, they blend the power of nature with human courage.

In terms of the painting's background, Ruoheng incorporates a unique concept, a dialogue with art history themes: a Monet-esque church, a French bullring with over 1900 years of history. This is art within art history, a series of ingenious reorganizations of memory. Once the landscape of art history merges intrinsically with the painting materials and techniques, the beauty of the painting shines brightly! Ruoheng utilizes a variety of materials, including acrylic, gemstones, mother-of-pearl, gold leaf, and enamel, to expand the expressive power of her painting. Using enamel on mother-of-pearl to replicate the atmosphere of light filtering through church windows preserves the cultural essence while showcasing the beauty of color; it possesses both the solemnity and mystery of medieval murals and incorporates Chinese freehand brushwork, resulting in a style that is both fashionable and elegant. The subtle tactile texture of the special materials brings a new breath and atmosphere to the painting.

In terms of the spirit of painting, why paint these bullfighters? Li Ruoheng believes that the bullfighting scene is not merely a continuation of human quirks, but a state of cultivation where soul and life invest the most effort and spirit. Painting is not just art, but also a confrontation of life's willpower and the acquisition of life forms—a testament to the untamable power of animality. Therefore, painting is a grand art of life, embodying strength and beauty, sensuality and elegance, blood and sacrifice, and reflecting a balance between passion and reason. The bulls faced by the bullfighters are of pure genetic quality, and the bullfighter's profession is a performance filled with awe and devotion. This demands that the painting also possess pure color and precise form. When Chinese audiences see these works live, they will undoubtedly be awestruck by their immense presence and captivated by their magnificence.