Ten Chinese Oil Painters: Zhan Jianjun

Author: Wang He
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The introduction of European oil painting to China initially was merely a new painting technique adopted and utilized by Chinese painters. However, after a century of exploration, oil painting has today become a language for Chinese painters to freely express their thoughts and emotions. Art knows no borders, and oil painting is a universally recognized category in the international art scene. Nevertheless, Chinese oil paintings created by Chinese artists carry unique cultural connotations of China. Through the "Chinese Oil Landscape," one can see the history and rich content of contemporary Chinese society, as well as the prolific artistic styles and diverse personalities of Chinese oil painters. In a sense, Chinese oil painting is a rich visual cultural reader of contemporary Chinese art.
Selecting and publishing the works of ten outstanding Chinese oil painters holds significant academic value. These ten artists represent different periods in the mid-20th century, whether living in China or abroad. Through long-term exploration and accumulation, they have created distinctive artistic styles. Their works have had a profound impact on both the international art community and the general public, and their artistic achievements have become symbols of China's exchange with the world.
The personal experiences and artistic inclinations of these ten painters vary. In terms of themes, some focus on social phenomena, while others emphasize psychological expression. In terms of artistic form, some lean toward figurative representation, while others favor abstract expression. However, their art shares a common cultural feature: grounded in the study of Western oil painting techniques, it integrates China's own cultural traditions, particularly the concept of harmony between nature and humanity and the method of unifying the depiction of the external world with the expression of the inner world. This gives their works a unique Chinese cultural imprint.
In the context of economic globalization, the shared space for international art has expanded. These ten painters, through their unique artistic languages, embody the spirit of the times, humanity, nature, and trees, leaving an indelible mark on the history of contemporary art. The World Knowledge Publishing House has chosen these artists to promote the achievements of Chinese oil painting in international cultural exchanges. We believe that these artists' works, as representatives of Chinese art, will engage audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds in broader cultural spaces, thereby achieving the goals of fostering emotional connection and enhancing cultural understanding.
Zhan Jianjun (1931–) is a native of Gaiping County, Liaoning Province. He entered the National Art College of Beijing in 1948 and later became a undergraduate at the Painting Department and a graduate student at the Color and Ink Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He was taught by masters such as Xu Beihong, Wu Zuoren, Dong Xiwen, Jiang Zhaohe, and Ye Qianyu. In 1955, he joined the oil painting training class led by the Soviet expert Maximov. His graduation work, the oil painting "Starting Home," won a bronze medal in the World Youth International Art Competition. Since 1957, he has taught at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, serving as a lecturer, associate professor, and currently as a professor, vice president of the China Artists Association, and president of the China Oil Painting Association. He is a nationally recognized expert with outstanding contributions.
For many years, he has been engaged in the creation, teaching, and academic work of oil painting. His artistic style is robust and vigorous, with bold brushwork, intense colors, and rich symbolism and poetic emotion. His works have won gold medals at the "National Art Exhibition," first prizes at the "Beijing Art Exhibition," and the bronze medal at the "World Youth International Art Competition." Representative works include "Five Heroes of," "Looking Back," "Songs of the Plateau," "Tide," "Green Fields," and "Poplar Forest on the Sand Dunes." He has led and organized national oil painting exhibitions, evaluations, and seminars, and has been widely introduced by television stations and various publications. Some of his works are collected by domestic art institutions such as the National Art Museum of China and the National Museum, and he has published "Zhan Jianjun Paintings."