Wu Zuoren
Encyclopedia
Wu Zuoren was a traditional Chinese
painter. A native of Jing County, Anhui
, he was born in Suzhou
, Jiangsu Province. He practiced both traditional Chinese ink painting and European oil painting.
For the remainder of his life, Wu Zuoren remains a prominent member of the central committee of the China Democratic League
, Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, and a member of the standing committee of the National People's Congress
. Wu Zuoren's second wife, Xiao Shufang, was an artist known for her flower paintings. Wu Zuoren founded and endowed the "Wu Zuoren International Foundation of Fine Arts".
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
painter. A native of Jing County, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
, he was born in Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, Jiangsu Province. He practiced both traditional Chinese ink painting and European oil painting.
Chronology
- 1908: Wu Zuoren is born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- 1927: Wu Zuoren studies in the department of fine arts at Shanghai Art University where his ability is recognized by Xu BeihongXu BeihongXu Beihong was born in Yixing, China. He was primarily known for his shuimohua of horses and birds and one of the first Chinese artists to articulate the need for artistic expressions that reflected a new modern China at the beginning of the 20th century...
. Later, he transfers to the department of fine arts at Nanguo Academy of Arts.
- 1928: Wu Zuoren follows Xu Beihong to study at the National Central University (renamed Nanjing UniversityNanjing UniversityNanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
in 1949).
- 1930 - 1935: Wu Zuoren travels abroad to study in Europe. He returns to China in 1935.
- 1939: Wu Zuoren's first wife, Lina, a Belgian national, dies at an early age while they are at Nanjing UniversityNanjing UniversityNanjing University , or Nanking University, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China...
, due to postpartum depressionPostpartum depressionPostpartum depression , also called postnatal depression, is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, typically after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual...
complicated by the bombardment of ChongqingChongqingChongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
by Japanese war planes.
- 1949: With the establishment of the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Wu Zuoren joins the China Artists AssociationChina Artists AssociationThe China Artists Association is the principal national institution for Chinese art through China, with its headquarters in Beijing....
.
- 1949-1953: Wu Zuoren becomes a professor and the first provost of China Central Academy of Fine ArtsChina Central Academy of Fine ArtsChina Central Academy of Fine Arts or CAFA is the only advanced academy of fine arts under direct charge of Department of Education in China. The Manila Bulletin called the school "China’s most prestigious and renowned art academy"...
.
- 1953: Wu Zuoren is elected vice president of the China Artists AssociationChina Artists AssociationThe China Artists Association is the principal national institution for Chinese art through China, with its headquarters in Beijing....
.
- 1954: Wu Zuoren becomes a permanent member of the National People's CongressNational People's CongressThe National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
.
- 1958: Wu Zuoren becomes the principal of the China Central Academy of Fine ArtsChina Central Academy of Fine ArtsChina Central Academy of Fine Arts or CAFA is the only advanced academy of fine arts under direct charge of Department of Education in China. The Manila Bulletin called the school "China’s most prestigious and renowned art academy"...
.
- 1963: Wu Zuoren sets out to change the face of China when presented with the opportunity to design a three postage stamps for the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Known for his ink paintings of yaks and camels in western China Wu Zuoren's Giant Panda stamps first issued in 1963 establish the Giant PandaGiant PandaThe giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
as the emblem of the new China. A second series of six Giant Panda stamps by Wu Zouren was issued in 1973, and a more elaborate Giant Panda edition based on his ink paintings produced in 1985.
For the remainder of his life, Wu Zuoren remains a prominent member of the central committee of the China Democratic League
China Democratic League
The China Democratic League is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China.The party was established in 1939 and took its present name in 1944. At its formation, it was a coalition of three pro-democracy parties and three pressure groups...
, Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, and a member of the standing committee of the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
. Wu Zuoren's second wife, Xiao Shufang, was an artist known for her flower paintings. Wu Zuoren founded and endowed the "Wu Zuoren International Foundation of Fine Arts".
- 1997: Wu Zuoren dies in Beijing.