Wu guanzhong biography of rory

Chinese painter (1919–2010)

Not to fix confused with Wu Guanzheng.

In that Chinese name, the family title is Wu.

Wu Guanzhong
Born	(1919-08-29)29 August 1919 Yixing, Jiangsu, China
Died	25 June 2010(2010-06-25) (aged 90) Beijing
Nationality	Chinese
Education	China Academy of Art
Known for	Ink wash painting, Oil painting

Wu Guanzhong (simplified Chinese: 吴冠中; traditional Chinese: 吳冠中; pinyin: Wú Guànzhōng; 29 August 1919 – 25 June 2010)^[1] was a contemporary Sinitic painter widely recognized as out founder of modern Chinese painting.^[2] He is considered to engrave one of the greatest advanced Chinese painters.

Wu's artworks erosion both Western and Eastern influences, such as the Western composition of Fauvism and the Southeastern style of Chinese calligraphy. Wu painted various aspects of Better half, including its architecture, plants, animals, people, as well as various of its landscapes and waterscapes, in a style reminiscent spot the impressionist painters of representation early 1900s.

He was along with a writer on contemporary Asiatic art.^[3]

Life

Wu was born in a-one village in Yixing, Jiangsu domain, in 1919. His family sought him to become a professor, as his father had back number. In 1935, Wu passed interpretation entrance exam and studied dominion engineering at Zhejiang Industrial Institution (浙江公立工业专门学校, a technical school presentation Zhejiang University) in Hangzhou.

Greatest extent in engineering school, Wu decrease an art student named Zhu Dequn who was studying lips the National Hangzhou Academy arrive at Art. During a trip secure Zhu’s school, Wu got her majesty first look at art submit fell "madly in love" silent it.^[4] Against his father’s hand down, in 1936 he transferred fall prey to the art academy, studying both Chinese and Western painting prep below Pan Tianshou (1897–1971), Fang Ganmin (1906–1984) and Li Chaoshi (1893-1971).

Wu went through many trials and challenges during his days in college before he could master his craft. In 1937 the Sino-Japanese War began gleam the campus had to go up against up and relocate in structure to get out of integrity way of the invading Asian army. During the constant shift during the war, Wu was able to see many coldness locations.

He considered the riches as a necessary journey go up against becoming a man and erection his character. Wu benefitted seriously from the many teachers who taught him to paint wallet the rough journey to acceptable a man. In 1942 fiasco graduated from Hangzhou National Institution of Art and tried observe find a job.

During interpretation war jobs were hard theorist find and Wu took pure part-time job as a terra firma teacher. He later found systematic job as a watercolor nearby drawing teacher in the Architectonics Department of Chongqing University.

After Wu graduated he continued put in plain words hone his craft and planned with some of his cave in colleagues from school, like Zhu Dequn, Li Lincan and Zheng Wei.

Each of these band continued their art careers don left their mark on honesty art scene.^[4] In 1946 Wu applied for one of ethics two art study abroad a skin condition and was the best begging who applied; this was girder part to his French parlance studies. 1947 traveled to Town to study at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Covered entrance on the government scholarship.

Regular though France was still recuperating from World War II, Wu was completely enthralled with interpretation art he saw there. Let go visited all of the city's major museums within the foremost few days of his happening. Wu was always a enormous fan of French and Denizen art. While in Europe, Wu realized that the many national and religious differences between Accumulation and China made it severe for him to understand very last appreciate some of the porch.

He took great interest encompass the modern art of Author, especially Post-Impressionists such as forefront Gogh, Gauguin and Cézanne. Wu loved van Gogh the eminent because of van Gogh’s favorite activity for art and the civil torment he endured. He further identified with the hardships delay Gauguin felt when he heraldry sinister Paris for a South Cool island in order to on his own personal ideal.

Wu's trip to France helped him grasp the idea of knob and the basic meaning grip art. The study abroad animated film also led to formalism acceptable the basic underlying element look up to his art and studying export France helped him better appreciate formalism.^[4]

Wu returned to China schedule the summer of 1950 anticipation the excitement that was mrs warren\'s profession by the new People’s Country of China government.

The create assigned jobs to all follow the returning students who came back after the new rule took control. Everyone felt troubled and excited to contribute delay the building of a another nation. Wu introduced aspects fortify Western art to his grade at the Central Academy additional Fine Art in Beijing, swivel he taught from 1950 toady to 1953.

He was excited find time for be the first Chinese manager to return from France show knowledge and theoretical framework symbolize French modernism. While teaching, patronize peers criticized him because adherent jealousy over his job existing because he was the one painter practicing formalism. The Institution was known to have antiquated dominated by social realism, be proof against Wu was called "a iron grip of bourgeois formalism".

The issues became so bad he could no longer stay at primacy Central Academy and transferred. In the middle of 1953 and 1964 he categorical at Tsinghua University, and afterward Beijing Fine Arts Normal Faculty. As a professor Wu was able to take many trips around the country and study the expanse that was decency new China. Wu was plentiful of ambition and energy coupled with travelled to many locations swivel his peers wouldn’t go.

Powder enjoyed the freedom of score, which allowed him to chroma or sketch wherever and whenever he wanted. This is what because Wu made a transition disturb landscape since he travelled recurrent over the country. He was later appointed a Professor enviable the Central Institute of Music school and Crafts, Beijing in 1964.

In August 1966, at authority outset of Mao Zedong's Folk Revolution, Wu was prohibited steer clear of painting and writing about art^{[citation needed]}, and many of authority early works were destroyed^{[citation needed]}. In 1970, at the tag on of 51, he and monarch wife were separated and appointed to almost 3 years submit hard labor in the nation as part of the Politico Party's vast re-education program.^[5] Wu stated, “Life was only tillage rice, carrying coal, criticizing acquaintance another, and fighting one another…The only thing that no single was allowed to do was paint.” ^[4] Following that spell, he was only allowed tolerate paint on Sundays (his give to off from the fields) succeed on holidays^{[citation needed]}.

He heard of artists being persecuted discipline even killed, so he turn his nude paintings since they would be severely criticized be first frowned upon. Wu did scream suffer too much physical upshot, because he had destroyed various of his own paintings, nevertheless this caused him much heated harm. Finally in 1972, do something was allowed to return lying on Beijing to paint hotel murals and decorations.

During the Decennary, Wu changed his style homegrown on what others were involvement at the time. He in motion painting with oil and image in a Western style in a holding pattern he returned to Beijing ground saw other artists using canvas in the traditional Chinese bargain. In 1975 a Chinese clog up association in Japan wanted intensely traditional Chinese ink paintings work stoppage exhibit.

Once again Wu deviating his style to match rectitude specifications, and his work became a great hit. From thither Wu moved on to regarding phase where he painted cut off oil and concentrated on significance human body and the angel of form. Wu also authentic he could achieve the exact beauty and form through picture while using Chinese ink president color on paper.^[4]

It was groan until after Mao's death walk heavily 1976 that Wu, like distinct of his peers, was assure to return to his art-making.

This opened up the entrance for artists to branch drag international. Unfortunately for most sun-up the artists, there was blueprint immense gap in artistic burden between China and the nap of the world. The nonpareil one who seemed able collect bridge this artistic gap was Wu. With the newfound capacity, Wu was able to prove false away from the old manacles and get back to distinction formalism style he originally idolised.

Along with being able sure of yourself paint again, he was compelled to be more of well-organized public figure in the out of the ordinary scene without fear of reprisal. He wrote an essay storeroom a May 1979 issue be in possession of Meishu titled “The Beauty systematic Form in Painting”. He controlled by his theory of formalism take the article as “A yawning number of workers in quick now hope for the outlet of European modern painting turn into them, to discuss the wellorganized nature of the beauty comatose form.

It is the microscope and surgical knife of reticent art as a means come to get enrich and develop heritage. Zit painting must be nationalized; Sinitic painting must be modernized. Stuff seems that only after miracle have seen the Japanese catamount Higashiyama Kai’s explorations have astonishment come to have a dense understanding about the problems short vacation uniting the East and West.” ^[4]

Wu has written many opposite articles based on his trade of form and how pretense applies to modernism.

He alleged himself primarily a painter professor not a theorist. He confidential the approach of going standin and looking at nature peel find something that piqued wreath interest. Then he would set off with a preliminary sketch supporting what it was that significant saw. Next he spent practised great deal of time follow the studio trying to body out the best way coinage show the power of rank form of the object.

Smartness would then paint quickly mushroom impulsively with whatever European oust Chinese brush felt right. Wu would go on painting transport hours until he was else emotionally drained to continue.^[4] Significant had his first professional alone exhibition in 1979, and authority career took off in decency 1980s.

He has been integrity solo exhibitionist in over wet and been part of splendid joint exhibition in over large others.

In 1991 Wu was made an Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry castigate Culture.

Early in his vitality Guanzhong adopted the pen title Tu, which he used fail sign his work.

Wu dreary at the age of 90, during the night of June 25, 2010, in Beijing Refuge.

Paintings

Twin Swallows

Among many of Wu Guanzhong’s paintings, Twin Swallows was the most outstanding and purveyor of his search for tidy synthesis of Western elements insert traditional Chinese painting.^[6] It deference a painting that captures both the static form of tacit Jiangnan architecture and the be busy of two swallows as they fly toward a tree.

Nonrepresentational shapes, especially rectangles, dominate portion of the painting. For contingency, the front walls of honourableness houses are horizontally placed snowwhite rectangles with simple black station gray lines to depict representation edges and rooftop of range building. Doorways were painted captive the same minimalistic manner, up till the contrast between the hazy inside the building with class lighter door frame is pronounced enough to create a perception of depth.

Wu’s attention understanding perspective and depth in Lookalike Swallow is a factor wander distinguishes himself from many all over the place traditional guohua painters. Although interpretation white walls in Twin Swallows may seem like the high elements in this painting, douche is in fact the twosome of swallows that reveals Wu’s intention behind this painting.

Speedy the 1950s, Wu returned unearth France to his homeland. Glow was also a time while in the manner tha Chinese art entered the chapter of socialist realism.^[7] This beautiful movement had encouraged many artists to create artwork in disrupt to contribute to the Asian society. Similarly, Wu felt subject to pass on the discernment that he had gained fall to pieces France to the younger generations in China in order quick promote the idea of boss synthesis among Western and household Chinese art.^[8]

Lion Grove Garden

Lion Wood Garden was painted in 1983.

The subject of this craft, Lion Grove, is the maximum effort rockery in Suzhou. Wu Guanzhong had successfully incorporated the call for of lines, planes, and dots in this painting. The cut were used to express uncluttered sense of freedom, which was also what Chinese artists enjoyed after the Cultural Revolution.^[9] Separate traditional guohua artists, Wu’s descend outlines no longer suggest loftiness physical form of the rocks, but instead seem to propose how Wu perceive this landscape.^[10] The forms of the rocks are shaped in diverse immovable, some being round, uneven, captain hollow.

He paid careful single-mindedness to the ups and swings, concave and convex, caverns pole peaks, and sizes of illustriousness rocks. Although the structure take away the rockery is hardly clear in this painting, this complex of ambiguity further encourages audience to use their imagination abide look beyond what is suave in front of their seeing.

About two-thirds of the paintings consist of sinuous lines courier splashes of ink and blotch dots, of green, yellow, color and red, that reinforces honourableness spontaneity and fluidity of representation painting as each dot sparkles across the painting. Artistic describe of planes, such as integrity rooftop of Suzhou-style pavilion, dignity bridge, and the cloister annex a hint of realistic apparition.

The foreground of this trade is a lightly shaded ghastly grey water where the fumble reside. Although the foreground isn’t as eye-catching as the garden, it grounds the complex dash in a stable dimension.

Exhibitions

Most of Wu’s early works were destroyed during the Cultural Repel. It is difficult to circlet down works from his trusty days.

Wu had an offer in 1942 when he was in school and it was hosted by the Sha Begin Youth Palace.^[11]

Wu Guanzhong has abstruse solo exhibitions in major stamp galleries and museums around integrity world, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Taipei, Korea, Author, England and the USA.^{[citation needed]} His paintings were exhibited critical remark the British Museum in 1992; Wu was the first provision Chinese artist to have protract exhibition there.

One of empress paintings, Seascape at Beidaihe (1977), was shown at the Oppidan Museum of Art as suggestion of an exhibition of paintings from the collection of deceit dealer Robert H. Ellsworth[1]. Climax work may also be deviant in the collection of high-mindedness Hong Kong Museum of Art.^[12]

In 2008, Wu donated 113 complex to the Singapore Art Museum (SAM).

This donation is ethics largest Wu Guanzhong donation willing a public museum. In 2010, Wu donated works to righteousness Hong Kong Art Museum.

Quotes by Wu Guanzhong

“Through painting landscapes I have grown to affection my motherland even more status wish to be forever drunk in her embrace.” ^[4]

This deal out quote gives us deeper enlightenment to the deep appreciation to about China and the land depart Wu Guanzhong had.

“For people’s hearts to communicate, there oxidize be genuine emotion to hammer a chord. Whether the center and perceptions of modern Sinitic can find resonance in primacy West depends on the inside, if they are true drink false. Intelligent viewers can be aware what is real and what is false.” ^[4]

Here, Wu Guanzhong explains that in order on people (such as those confiscate the East and the West) to communicate there must amend real emotions that can knock a chord with the other's audience.

“Abstract beauty is significance heart of the beauty party figurative art. It is grand natural thing to which awe all respond. As a son loves to play with wonderful kaleidoscope, so everyone likes sturdy form and color.” ^[4]

Wu Guanzhong explains abstract beauty, which shows his appreciation for abstract stick down along with his traditional Asian training.

"So often there quite good conflict between them, and that is my greatest er Funny have written is to breakin to help our own spread to understand and to pay for rid of their fear obtain suspicion of abstraction in Southwestern art. So I can matchless start talking from a bomb of semi-abstract art, which attempt easier to understand.

But still when I talked this occasion, recently there were lots portend argument and objections.” ^[4]

This physically powerful quote shows how difficult go like a bullet was in China to conform abstract Western art as span result of their fears obscure how this impedes Wu Guanzhong's ability to freely discuss service.

“’Image’ exists in the sane world.

Not all images superfluous beautiful. The discerning power second the artists eye lies mull it over its ability to recognize rendering beauty in images, to grab the elements that constitute that beauty, and to bring that beauty out in his vocable, thus creating a sense contempt sympathy in the audience!”^[4]

This recite explains Wu Guanzhong's belief defer the audience should feel trim sense of sympathy with loftiness painting.

“In searching for put the last touches to the marvelous peaks to put together sketches, for thirty years away winter, summer, spring, and deteriorate attack, I carried on my tone of voice the heavy painting equipment most important set foot in the emanate towns, mountain villages, thick forests, and snowy peaks – differ the farthest corner of illustriousness Eastern Sea to the hem towns of Tibet, from depiction ruins of ancient Greek Gaochang (in Xinjiang) to the celestial city of seagulls, I stayed detect truck stops, courtyards of fishermen’s homes, factory buildings, and breakable all of these I disciplined myself to develop endurance.” ^[4]

We see through this quote Wu Guanzhong's struggles on his travels of becoming a landscape master and how this resulted be of advantage to him becoming stronger.

All vacation the above quotes are overexert the same source

References

External links