Cristobal Lui

Cristóbal Lui shows his artistic abilities from the young age of 4, when his grandmother recognizes his aptitudes and encourages him by giving him chalk to paint using the ground as a canvas.

At the age of 9, his interest in painting grew when his older brother, an architecture student, brought sketches of historical relics from Indonesia to the home. Later he met a young Chinese teacher who brought together a group of talented children with an interest in painting. Being part of that group he had the opportunity to start painting in watercolors in the open air, every Sunday.

When he was in his 3rd. year of college he participated in his first watercolor contest obtaining 2nd place. From that moment on he attends painting classes with Professors Pikgan and Nurden; and at the end of his secondary studies he takes painting courses at the ASRI-Academy of Fine Arts in Jogjakarta, Indonesia.

He completed his formal studies at Yunnan University in China and worked for 10 years as a translator and teacher of English, then he moved to Hong Kong where he lived for almost 20 years, during which time he spends the nights creating his paintings for export. In 1981 he traveled to Costa Rica to meet, returning on several occasions, and in 1991 he decided to stay and live permanently.

During these years he has dedicated his time to creating works that reflect the Costa Rican landscape, genre and also works that express his thought and vision of the world. Among the subjects that he most likes to paint are children. He considers Francisco de Goya and Rembrandt to be his greatest influences.