QI BAISHI (1863-1957)

This painting is dedicated to Jorge Leal Amado de Faria (1912-2001). Amado was the best known writer of the Modernist school in Brazil. Born near Itabuna in Bahia, Southern Brazil, Amado began his literary career early in life; he first contributed to magazines and then published his first novel at the age of 18. Amado was active in politics, especially in the Brazilian Communist Party, until his return to Brazil after two exiles in Argentina and France in 1955. He then dedicated his life to literature. He met Qi Baishi in 1952, during Amado's grand journey through Eastern Europe, Soviet Union to China. Due to his literary contribution, Amado received accolades and honours from universities worldwide and was praised by important literary figures such as Jean-Paul Sartre.