Few people know about the instructor of Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-Ki, Chu Teh-Chun, the man behind these household names and the influential men in the field of Chinese art. We find the answer in “Wu Dayu Documentary Exhibition: The Forgotten, the Discovered Star”, which was unveiled on May 6, 2015, the exhibition presents the works, documents, letters, etc., comprehensively showcasing Wu Dayu’s art development and thinking. The exhibition is jointly hosted by Chinese Academy of Oil Painting, the Oil Painting Art Committee of China Artists Association, People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, and it is the second exhibition for the large-scale research project in the Exhibition Hall of the Chinese Academy of Oil Painting, following the works exhibition by the French modernist art master George Rouault.

There are 10 subjects covered including: Distinguished Heritage of Knowledge from Yixing, Art Study in Shanghai, Editor of “Shen Newspaper”, Stuty Abroad in Paris, Renowned Instructor of Art Academy, A Master of Colors, A Hermit of the Painting Circles, Poetic Philosopher, A Pioneer of Abstract Art, The Love Between Wu Dayu and Shou Yilin, this exhibition is the first comprehensive solo exhibition of the artist. More than 100 works are showcased, covering oil painting, color crayon, watercolor, ink and wash, colored ink, cartoon, pen drawing, pencil drawing, calligraphy and so on, painting materials such as palette, easel, brushes, pigments, used by Wu Dayu before his death, the art documentaries of his teachers Zhang Yuguang and Bourdelle, together with the influential men in the history of modern Chinese art including his colleagues and friends Lin Fengmian, Lin Wenzheng, Lv Fengzi, Pan Tianshou, Fang Ganmin, as well as his students Wu Guanzhong, Chu Teh-Chun, Zao Wou-Ki. The exhibition constructed the art history of Wu Dayu’s personal development and reconstructed the previously veiled brilliance of Chinese modernism, forming an important chapter of Chinese fine arts in the 20th century.

Wu Dayu’s art of oil painting did not only introduce the Western art, but also recreate it, he clung to the context and continued to promote the development of oil painting. Being the guru of Chinese abstract oil paintings, Wu ushered in a new era of abstract art of Chinese oil painting, and still influencing painters today. From the exhibited works, we can find that his works are generally small, but revealing the immensity of heaven and earth, the concept of time is integrated into the painting space, to build a feeling of space and time, with the use of a kind of subjective color, the structures of colors and the structures of screen have an interactive relationship, at the same time, it reveals a strong rhythm of symphony, in a special way he skillfully and easily dealt with blue color. The majority of his abstract art is themed on “flower”, through the flower to show his thinking of human, nature, the universe and feelings, so it is pure, directly expressing the inner feelings. It also showcases a large number of documentaries, including the image data in all stages of his life, the illustrations created by the artist when he was an editor, the letters to his teachers, students, friends, family, and poetries, etc., through the visual images and documents, to comprehensively present the real life and development of Wu Dayu.

The exhibition intends to rediscover the forgotten artistic brilliance, to promote the study and thinking of abstract painting. It unfolds as a case study, as Zhou Changjiang, Executive Editor of “Wu Dayu Works Portfolio”, and the exhibition advisor said that work was one of the most dominant exhibiting forms, while the art thinking behind the work was also very important. This is a touring exhibition across the country, in order to allow more audiences understand Wu Dayu, and know the development of Chinese abstract painting.

At the same time, edited by Wu Dayu’s daughter Wu Chongli and his son Shou Chongning, the big “Wu Dayu Works Portfolio” is published by the People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, including 149 works of oil painting, as well as more than 750 works, covering color crayon, watercolor, ink and wash, cartoon, pen drawing, pencil drawing, calligraphy, etc., is the most comprehensive portfolio for Wu Dayu ever.

The exhibition will remain on view until May 20.

Text by Zhang Wenzhi, Photo by Xu Fan/CAFA ART INFO

Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO

About the exhibition

Hosts: Chinese Academy of Oil Painting, Oil Painting Art Committee of China Artists Association, People’s Fine Arts Publishing House

Organizers: Exhibition Hall of Chinese Academy of Oil Painting, Beijing Wiki Art Center

Co-organizers: art.china.cn, artron.net, YUNTOO, Furen School

Exhibition Advisors: Yan Zhenduo, Jia Fangzhou, Jean - Paul DESROCHES, Zhou Changjiang, Yang Feiyun, Xu Jiang

Curator: Tai Wuqi

Duration: May 5 – May 20, 2015

Venue: Exhibition Hall of Chinese Academy of Oil Painting (No.1704, Gaobeidian Cultural Arts Street)

Courtesy of the artist and the Chinese Academy of Oil Painting.