Wu Zuoren, Complete Collection of Famous Chinese Painters

Author: Wu Zuo Ren (Painting), Zhou Zhao Kan (Editing)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-03-01
Features: Wu Zuo Ren was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, in 1908 and spent his childhood and youth there. In 1926, he enrolled in the Architecture Department of Suzhou Industrial College. From 1927 to early 1930, he studied at the Shanghai Art University, the National Academy of Fine Arts, and the Art Department of Nanjing Central University, where he was a student of the renowned painter Xu Beihong and participated in the Southland Art Reform Movement. In 1930, he went to Europe for studies, first enrolling in the école Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and later entering the studio of Professor Balthus at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, Belgium. In his second year of study, he won the gold medal and the title of "Crown Student" in the annual summer oil painting competition held by the entire academy. He studied diligently, mastered professional skills, and created a substantial number of oil paintings, demonstrating extraordinary artistic talent. President Balthus praised him as "neither a Flemish painter nor a traditional Chinese artist, but rather an author with a unique personality." In 1935, he returned to China to teach at the Art Department of Nanjing Central University. During the War of Resistance, the university moved west to Chongqing. In 1938, he led the "War Zone Sketching Group" to the front lines to paint. From 1943 to 1944, he traveled to the regions of Gansu, Qinghai, and Shaanxi to sketch and copy the murals of the Dunhuang Grottoes. From 1944 to early 1945, he ventured into the Tibetan Plateau and the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, capturing diverse cultural landscapes and creating numerous sketches, while holding multiple exhibitions. After 1946, he spent the rest of his career teaching and leading at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, while also producing many beloved works. Over his 60-year artistic career, Wu Zuo Ren deeply rooted himself in the fertile soil of China's excellent cultural traditions. With profound talent and a command of both Eastern and Western art, he pursued innovation with dedication. Guided by his artistic philosophy of "transforming methods to suit oneself, and art serving life," and following the path of "learning from nature and surpassing it," he inherited and developed tradition, pioneering a new style for "Chinese ink painting." He made significant contributions both theoretically and practically, becoming an outstanding artist and art educator who bridged the past and future in the history of contemporary Chinese art. His works have been exhibited countless times both domestically and internationally, sought after by collectors and museums worldwide. He was invited to lecture, hold solo or joint exhibitions, visit, and engage in cultural exchanges across the globe. In 1984, the French Ministry of Culture awarded him the "Grand Cross of Arts and Literature," and in 1986, the King of Belgium bestowed upon him the "Crown of Honor Medal." Wu Zuo Ren served as Vice President, Deputy President, and President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, as well as Vice President of the Chinese Artists Association. He was elected as a representative to the first to sixth sessions of the National People's Congress and as a standing committee member of the sixth session, as well as a standing committee member of the seventh session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He also held positions such as Standing Committee Member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, Director of the Culture Committee, and more. Currently, he serves as a Professor and Honorary President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and President of the Chinese Artists Association. This book compiles over 150 of Wu Zuo Ren's masterpieces, providing a detailed introduction to his life and artistic journey. It also includes excerpts from his own writings on art, a chronology of his life, and quotes from reviews of his paintings by various critics.