SHANGHAI: Fan Zeng, one of the most valuable contemporary painters in China, recently announced the birth of his only biological son while severing ties with his other children, once again bringing family disputes into the public eye.
At 87 years old, Fan is celebrated for his remarkable artistry, with his works generating sales exceeding four billion yuan (US$567 million) between 2008 and 2024, as reported by news portal QQ.com.
At least 10 of his paintings have fetched over 10 million yuan at auction. Notably, a piece created by Fan in 1991 sold for 18.4 million yuan at a Beijing auction in 2011.
In addition to his painting prowess, Fan is a highly regarded calligrapher, with his calligraphy priced around 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) per 0.11 square metre.
In recent years, Fan has been a focal point of public interest. In April last year, he garnered significant attention for marrying Xu Meng, who is 50 years his junior.
Before this marriage, Fan had been through three marriages, resulting in one biological daughter and two stepchildren.
On Dec 11, Fan announced the birth of his son, whom Xu gave birth to.
“Recently, I welcomed a son. I have also moved into a new house. My wife, our son, and I form a very happy family,” Fan shared on social media.
“Given my old age, I have entrusted my beloved wife Xu Meng to manage all internal and external family matters from now on. Others have no right to interfere,” he added.
Fan also made the decision to completely sever ties with his other children.
“Some individuals use the names of my other children to spread rumours, incite conflicts, and even jeopardise my family. Therefore, I officially announce today that I will break off all relations with my daughter Fan Xiaohui, my stepson Fan Zhongda, and their families. I will not engage with them further.
“I revoke all trust, authorisation, and collaboration arrangements with them. They are not permitted to use my name for any future activities. If they do, I will hold them accountable,” said Fan.
It is widely known among the mainland public that Fan has been on strained terms with his children.
In August, his daughter Xiaohui claimed on social media that she had been unable to contact her father. She alleged that the octogenarian was being mistreated and controlled by Xu and accused Xu of secretly selling numerous artworks worth 2 billion yuan (US$280 million) belonging to Fan.
Days later, Fan’s company dismissed these allegations as baseless.
A native of eastern Jiangsu province, Fan studied traditional Chinese painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in the 1960s.
He trained under the guidance of Li Keran and Li Kuchan, both respected masters in modern Chinese art history.
Fan married Lin Xiu in 1963, though they divorced five years later.
In 1971, he married his classmate Bian Baohua, who had previously been divorced and had a daughter. Bian eventually gave birth to Fan’s daughter, Fan Xiaohui.
Fan and Bian divorced in 1993, after which he married Zhang Guiyun, also known as Nan Li. Zhang’s two sons adopted Fan’s surname following their marriage. Zhang died in 2021.
Xu, who previously worked as a presenter at China Traffic Broadcasting, met Fan through her job and later became his assistant. Last year, Fan mentioned on social media that Xu’s “considerate care and love helped him recover from illness.”
Over the past decades, Fan’s works have frequently been exhibited internationally. - South China Morning Post/ANN
