Liangchen Qu, born in 1985 in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Liège, Belgium, holding a dual academic background in printmaking and independent filmmaking. As a cross-disciplinary cultural facilitator, he serves simultaneously as an entrepreneur, curator, and artist. He has long been dedicated to fostering cultural exchange between China and Belgium, curating numerous art projects of international significance. In 2025, he was awarded the Order of the Crown (Knight) by the King of Belgium in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cultural cooperation between the two nations.
Basic Information
Name:Qu Liangchen (LIANGCHEN QU)
Year of Birth:1985
Place of Birth: Dandong City, Liaoning Province
Alma Mater:Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Liège, Belgium
Education:Postgraduate
Professional Identity:Entrepreneur, Curator, Artist
Major Achievements:Knight of the Order of the Crown (Belgium, 2025); "Building Bridges" Special Contribution Award for China-Belgium Cooperation (2024)
Representative Projects: Ardennes Plateau Brand; FREESTART International Bonded Art Warehouses (including facilities in the Shenyang Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Tianjin Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone, Beijing Daxing International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone, and Chengdu Qingbaijiang Comprehensive Bonded Zone), etc.
Biography
Early Life and Education
2001: Moved to Belgium to pursue studies abroad.
2002–2007: Studied in the Department of Printmaking at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Liège, Belgium, earning a Postgraduate Diploma.
2007–2011: Pursued advanced studies in the Department of Independent Filmmaking and Audiovisual Arts at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Liège, earning a Master's Degree.
Professional Development
2008: Appointed as a Council Member of the Liège Printmaking Association (Belgium), marking the beginning of his involvement in the operations of European art institutions.
2012: Founded the "Zhongren International Cultural Media Center" in Belgium, systematically launching cultural exchange projects between China and Europe.
2013–2014: Taught in the Department of Printmaking at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Liège, nurturing young artistic talent.
2015: Appointed as the Chief Representative of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Liège in China, establishing a bridge for cooperation in art education between China and Belgium.
2017: Founded Ardennes Plateau Cultural Development Co., Ltd., exploring models for the integration of art and commerce.
2023: Established FREESTART International Bonded Art Warehouses, promoting the cross-border circulation of artworks and financial innovation within the sector.
2024: Founded ATFT Ardennes Plateau (Liaoning) Import & Export Co., Ltd., deepening trade and cultural synergy between China and the West. Major Achievements
Artistic Honors
Qu Liangchen has made outstanding contributions to the fields of art and culture, garnering numerous awards. His key honors include:
2007: Outstanding Graduate Award from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Liège; Grand Prize at the Cerveira International Art Biennial (Portugal)
2008: First Prize at the Huy International Biennial of Contemporary Art (Belgium)
2013: First Prize for a printmaking work at the Volgograd State Art Gallery (Russia); Selected for the Guanlan International Print Biennial (China)
2012: "Local Culture Award" at the Golden Sugarcane Film Festival (for cross-disciplinary video creation)
Social Honors
2024: Recipient of the "Building Bridges" Special Contribution Award for China-Belgium Cooperation
2025: Appointed as "Investment Promotion Ambassador" for the Shenyang Airport Economic Zone
2025: Awarded the "Order of the Crown" (Knight) by the King of Belgium
Social Initiatives and Project Planning
Establishment of Cultural Exchange Platforms
Launched in 2012:For over a decade, organized the bilateral exchange program *Cultural Journey: Deep Dive into China*, attracting more than 100 European artists to visit China.
Founded in 2013: Served as Editor-in-Chief of *Zhongren* (The Crowd)—a bilingual Chinese-French magazine—establishing it as a vital window for Europe to understand contemporary Chinese art.
2023–2025: Curated nearly 30 Sino-European cultural and artistic exchange events themed around the "Belt and Road Initiative," leveraging the power of art to empower regional economic cooperation.
Early 2025 (Curatorial Project): Curated *The Texture of Time*—a Sino-Belgian art exhibition held at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing—introducing cutting-edge European artistic currents.
Late 2025 (Curatorial Project): Curated *Beyond the Mirror*—a Sino-Italian art exhibition held at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing—introducing cutting-edge European artistic currents.
Philanthropy and Education
Launched in 2019: Initiated the *For Those Expectant Eyes* inspirational charity auction, extending the reach of artistic resources into the realm of education-focused poverty alleviation. Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions
Qu Liangchen’s works have been exhibited in numerous countries. Notable exhibitions include:
2003: "Young Artists of Wallonia" Exhibition, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Liège, Belgium
2004: Group Exhibition of Artists from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Liège, Belgium; Group Exhibition of the Liège Printmaking Association, Belgium; "CHURCHILL" Printmaking Exhibition, Belgium
2005: 5th Liège International Printmaking Biennial, Belgium; 13th International Printmaking Biennial, Portugal; Annual Calendar Collection Exhibition, Liège Provincial Library, Belgium
2006: Solo Exhibition at WEGIMONT Gallery, Belgium; "50 Artists of Liège" Exhibition, Belgium; "Netherlands–Germany Contemporary Art" Tri-Exhibition
2007: "Belgian Contemporary Printmaking" Duo Exhibition; 6th Liège International Printmaking Biennial, Belgium; 14th International Biennial, Portugal
2008: "China Exhibition" at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Liège, Belgium; "FOCUS CHINE" Group Exhibition, Brussels; 18th Contemporary Art Biennial, Fondation Lambert Le Crenier
2009: WITTERT Gallery, University of Liège, Belgium (China Exhibition); International Photography Exhibition, WITTERT, Belgium; 7th Liège International Printmaking Biennial, Belgium
2010: Solo Exhibition at Emmanuel Gallery, Liège, Belgium
2012: 7th Golden Sugarcane Film Festival, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; "La Châtaigneraie" Contemporary Art Exhibition, Belgium
2013: Printmaking Exhibition at the Volgograd State Art Museum, Russia; 4th China Guanlan International Print Biennial
2018: "Belgian Contemporary Art" Exhibition (Part of the "Year of Belgian Culture" events)
2021: "Asia-Pacific Exchange Exhibition," "European Landscapes Exhibition," and "China-Belgium Art Exhibition," M56 Art Museum, Shenyang
2022: "10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative: Shenyang Free Trade Zone Art Season and China-Europe Urban Cultural Exchange Series"
2023: "10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative: Shenyang Free Trade Zone Art Season and China-Europe Urban Cultural Exchange Series"
2024: “Belt and Road: China–Europe Urban Cultural Exchange Bonded Art Exhibition,” Tianjin Airport Art Museum
2025: “The Texture of Time: Contemporary Belgian Art Exhibition,” Guardian Art Center, Beijing
