18 | Tuesday, November 26, 2019 LIFE CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

A landscape by late artist Wu Guanzhong goes on show at Art Nurtures Life, an exhibition that runs through May 3 at Tsinghua University Art Museum. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Art for one and all

Exhibition marks centennial of master painter Wu Guanzhong’s birth, Lin Qi reports.

ate master painter Wu Guan­ The exhibition now on at the Tsinghua man of “mixed blood in art” to fuse the zhong (1919­2010) and two of his University Art Museum includes dozens essence of the two cultures. peers, Chinese­French artists of paintings, drafts, manuscripts and Wu Guanzhong adopted the tech­ Zao Wou­ki (1920­2013) and Chu objects used by Wu that were donated to niques and color schemes of oil paintings LTeh­chun (1920­2014), were dubbed the the museum by Wu’s family in July and to reform the style of classic Chinese ink “three musketeers” of modern Chinese earlier this month. paintings. He was also inspired by the art by the media. The artists first attend­ Wu Keyu, the artist’s eldest son, says the natural scenery and ancient architecture ed the China Academy of Art in donations fulfill the wish of his father from his native country to create oil works Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and then who anticipated a museum being built at that are exuberant with an elegant, philo­ lived and studied in France, where they the university he had served for decades. sophical touch of Chinese culture. learned about different art movements in Among the exhibits is Last Spring, an “Day and night, I stand firmly on the Europe, and were also elected to become ink work in color from 2010 in which Wu soil of my home, and I embrace the moth­ members of the Academy of Fine Arts of Guanzhong administered a combination erland, feeling her warmth and pulse all France. of lines and dots to present a vibrant the time,” he said. They all taught at art schools. While scene of spring in an abstract way. Zhang Fuye, a former student of Wu Zao and Chu abandoned teaching after Wu Yiding, the youngest son, says the Guanzhong and currently a professor at moving to Paris in 1948 and 1955 respec­ painting is the last completed work in the Tsinghua University’s Academy of Arts tively and became career artists, Wu artist’s oeuvre. and Design, says his teacher asked them returned to China in 1950 and taught for A portrait of late master painter Wu The ailing Wu Guanzhong was sent to to learn about Chinese art traditions and decades before retiring from Tsinghua Guanzhong (1919­2010). hospital shortly after he finished the absorb their essential elements, and he University’s Academy of Arts and Design painting. especially spoke highly of the poetic in the late 1980s. He lived in Beijing and “Father didn’t have the time to sign or atmosphere and philosophical depth con­ painted while he also taught. May 3, 2020, at Tsinghua University Art stamp his seals on it, neither did he get veyed in classic landscape paintings. Wu educated generations of painters Museum. The show gathers collections of the piece framed,” Wu Yiding says. “He “A serious, upright man, he shouldered and art scholars, as well as through his Wu’s works from the museum, the was hospitalized for 85 days. He never a strong responsibility for the develop­ own works helped the masses to develop National Art Museum of China in Beijing returned home to his studio.” ment of Chinese art and culture,” Zhang a deeper appreciation for and integration and the National Gallery Singapore. The In his body of works, Wu Guanzhong says. of art in daily life. exhibition is said to be a climax of several hailed the beauty of forms. He choreo­ Wu Guanzhong once said he hoped his “Throughout my life I have strived to art shows and events throughout this year graphed a symphony of lines and dots paintings would be praised by his former find a sentiment that could be shared by to mark the centennial of Wu’s birth. between strokes, aided by layering a light, teachers and artist friends in France, all people,” Wu once said. Wu donated his works to many muse­ refreshing palette, to deliver rhythmic while also pleasing ordinary viewers like He is remembered as one of the most ums through which he also wished to poetry. rural women with little knowledge of art. Top: Childhood, a painting by Wu forward­looking and beloved artists in boost public education in art. A few hours Wu Guanzhong is known for bringing He said, “If people miss me, just go to Guanzhong from the collection of China. before he died on June 25, 2010 in Beijing, East and West closer together through his see my paintings.” National Gallery Singapore, is on Wu’s commitment to public education five of his paintings arrived at the Hong work. He was trained at Ecole nationale show in Beijing. Above: Lotus, a in art is at the heart of Art Nurtures Life, Kong Museum of Art to complete the last superieure des Beaux­Arts in Paris in the Contact the writer at painting by Wu from the collection an ongoing exhibition that runs through donation made during his lifetime. 1940s. He often said he wanted to be a [email protected] of the National Art Museum of China. Ne Zha begins hunt for Oscar glory with Academy screening

LOS ANGELES — The box­office­ ling film that has pushed Chinese ael Peyser. “It took an early myth yourself. Don’t battle to change busting Chinese animated film, Ne animation into the global spotlight. from Chinese culture and imbued it yourself, just battle to be the best of Zha, selected as the Chinese main­ “I was surprised and honored with a kind of impish humor.” who you already are.” land’s official Academy Award sub­ that our film was selected. I hadn’t “It was stunningly beautiful and Somewhat biographically, direct­ mission this year, had its first expected the audience to be so very moving,” says Valerie, a Writers or Jiao Zi had to find himself to official academy screening on receptive. Our film broke animation Guild of America writer. “The story­ make it through the hard times and Wednesday, playing to a theater stereotypes and our selection was telling felt Chinese, but it had the climb the many hurdles he faced packed with members of the Holly­ another kind of a breakthrough,” Yi ‘Cain and Abel’ conflict between before getting the chance to do his wood guild and the academy. says. brothers that’s universal.” own animated feature. Ne Zha is among a record­break­ The homegrown animation fea­ Dee, a member of the American “In order to pursue your dreams, ing total of 93 films competing for tures a popular young hero from Cinema Editors Association, bal­ you must be able to bear a lot of out­ best international feature film at ancient Chinese legends and clas­ anced her reaction, “It was a very side pressure and be willing to the 92nd Academy Awards, also sics such as Journey to the West. In effective film. My one critique is struggle,” he advises. known as the Oscars. The film is the story, Ne Zha, born with unique A scene from Chinese animated film Ne Zha, which is adapted from that, as a new director, he put a little Glen Chaika, an American anima­ also one of the top international powers, finds himself an outcast ancient Chinese mythology. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY of every style into it. As he develops, tion director who did one of the first contenders in the animated feature that is hated and feared. Destined he will use his own specific style for Chinese CGI (Computer­generated film category. by prophecy to devastate the world, each film.” imagery) movies back in 2002, had Ne Zha, adapted from an ancient the boy must choose between good In order to pursue your Many felt the film’s message went high praise for hardworking Chi­ Chinese myth, is the top­grossing and evil to break the shackles of fate deeper. nese animators. He says, “Chinese animated film ever made in China and become the hero he wants to be. dreams, you must be able to Actress Zhang “Sharon” Shuo animation has grown so much since and currently sits second on the Official Oscar screenings are held bear a lot of outside pressure and says, “It was nuanced and clever, I first started teaching. They love overall box­office chart for films to enable all Academy of Motion melding traditional and new ele­ rich textures, extravagant lighting ever screened on the Chinese main­ Picture members and other Holly­ be willing to struggle.” ments very well. Its message is the effects, stunning visuals, and this land. So far, the unexpected hit has wood guild members, like directors, Yang Yu (Jiao Zi), animation writer­director same thing I learned from studying one has it all.” grossed more than $700 million actors, cinematographers and edi­ tai chi: you learn you can change Well Go USA Entertainment worldwide. tors, to be able to see and judge the your destiny. We have the power released the Mandarin­language The film is the brain child of Yang film for themselves before voting. within us to do what’s good.” film with English and Chinese subti­ Yu (stage name Jiao Zi), a young The responses of viewers on Schwartzman, the Academy Award­ and Animation committee, concurs, Hoda Meisamy, a member of the tles in selected 3D IMAX theaters pharmacist­turned­animation writ­ Wednesday was enthusiastic, with winning documentarian of Geno­ “I really liked it. I’ve seen a lot of ani­ Costume Designer Guild who stud­ across the United States and Canada er­director, who teamed up with many who were interviewed saying cide, who started out in animation mations, but this was much more ied Taoism at the White Cloud Mon­ on Aug 29, followed by a release in writer­producer, Yi Qiao, CEO of the they would vote for Ne Zha. before moving into documentaries. action­oriented and epic.” astery in Beijing, says, “What I’ve regular theaters on Sept 6. animation startup Coloroom Pic­ “It was fantastic, superb, crazy Pamela Franklin, who serves on “It was totally dynamic and learned from Taoism is that you can tures, to make a unique and compel­ over­the­top!” according to Arnold the Academy’s Foreign Language fresh,” says academy member Mich­ change your fate by actually being XINHUA