Published on : 28/06/2024
On June 28, 1992, a giant portrait of Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) was erected near Lizhi Park in Futian District, Shenzhen, which was the largest hand-painted oil painting in China at that time.
The current portrait of Deng Xiaoping is the fourth version, designed on August 15, 2004.
The first version portrays Deng against the backdrop of the sky, pointing to the mountains and rivers, with a slogan designated by Shenzhen City Committee Propaganda Department.
This slogan was one of Deng Xiaoping's speeches during his inspection of Shenzhen, "Without adhering to socialism, without Reform and Opening-up, without economic development, without improving people's livelihood, there is only a dead end." (不堅持社會主義，不改革開放，不發展經濟，不改善人民生活，只能是死路一條)
The second version of Deng's portrait was redesigned in May 1994. The background became clear skies after the dispersion of clouds, symbolising the prospect of the Reform and Opening-up as "clearing the clouds to see the blue sky".
The slogan was also changed to "Uphold the basic line of the Party with unswerving resolve for 100 years" (堅持黨的基本路線一百年不動搖), which has been used until now.
However, since both the first and second versions were hand-painted, the effects were not perfect. Therefore, the third version of Deng Xiaoping's portrait was introduced in the middle and late of 1996, using the most advanced computer synthesis and spraying technology at the time.
It was also the first advertisement promotion painting in China that was independently produced using computer spraying technology.
The latest fourth version is not much different from the third one in terms of the slogan and Deng Xiaoping's image.
It only replaced the scene behind Deng, which showed part of the view of Luohu District of Shenzhen, with a new version of the city where a lot more new buildings could be seen.
From left to right, the background of the fourth version includes landmarks in Shenzhen that were built in the 1980s, 1990s and the 21st century, including the International Trade Centre Building, the Diwang Mansion, and the Civic Centre, etc.
