Famous Chinese writer Feng Jicai warned of corruption’s negative impact on art circles while attending the annual meeting of China's top advisory body in Beijing on Wednesday.

Famous Chinese writer Feng Jicai(R), a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at a panel discussion in Beijing on March 11, 2015. [China.org.cn]

Feng, a calligrapher and painter who is also the well-known author of several books including "Three Inch Golden Lotus," is the vice president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He is attending the committee's third annual session in Beijing.

"Corruption harms the arts very much, and artworks can be used as a bribery tool," the writer said. "The value of art has been twisted. This is one of the reasons why there have been no great artists for a long time."

He pointed out that artworks are often used as tools of covertly transferring political influence and making financial gain. "Power and art should be separated completely!" he warned.

Feng cited some examples of average paintings and calligraphy by lesser-known artists being sold for millions of yuan, prices which are much higher than those fetched by the works of previous masters like Tang Bohu and Qi Baishi. "The prices are outrageous and ridiculous, and the motive hidden behind them is the bribery of officials," he said. "This is called 'elegant graft,' because the officials can get the money [in the guise of the sale of artworks] and show off their taste and status."

Feng asserted that this kind of graft harms artists' values and talents. "There are no top artists in the art world now. We have reached an art plateau in our cultural world, but we don't have peaks, since many good but not great artists all go make quick money by doing more and more commercial paintings. When the power of officials gets involved, the artworks are used as influence peddling tools. "

The writer suggested that politicians and officials be barred from arts associations so that artists can find their proper niche in the market, the right approach to life and the right artistic values. Feng called for artists to have their own pursuits, morals, goals and self-discipline, developing themselves as professionals and leaving behind their vanity as soon as possible. "Then we can finally call this boom in the arts and in the arts market real."

The third session of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference will close on Friday.

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