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A spokesman for the Hong Kong Museum of Art (Museum of Art) noted today (March 21) that Wu Guanzhong, the great master of Chinese painting, was recently honoured as Medaille des Arts et Lettres (Art Academician of France) by the Academie des Beaux - Arts de l' Institut de France (French Academy of Fine Arts), which is regarded as the most prestigious art institute in France. The internationally renowned French Academy of Fine Arts (French Academy) grants a total of 10 Art Academicians and the quota will be replaced only when an Art Academician holder passes away. Mr Wu was nominated to the French Academy this February for this honour. And at an election taking place in March 6, there were 19 votes, out of a total of 20 votes, casted for Mr Wu, making him to be the first Chinese who wins the honour, the highest recognition of the great master's achievements in art.
Now, the general public of Hong Kong will also have an opportunity to appreciate the masterpieces by Mr Wu. An exhibition entitled "Wu Guanzhong: A Retrospective" is currently being held at the Museum of Art and it will run until May 12. Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Museum of Art, the exhibition features about 100 ink paintings and oil paintings as well as Mr Wu's most recent works selected from the major area of his oeuvre of art. They form a comprehensive retrospective on the artistic development of the artist. The exhibits also include Mr Wu's eight representative pieces donated to the Museum of Art.
Wu Guanzhong was born in 1919 in Yixing county, Jiangsu province. He began his formal training in Chinese and Western painting at the National Hangzhou Academy of Art and later he went to Paris to further his studies in the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts. In 1950, after graduation, he determined to return to China and devote himself to serving his country with art.
Soon after he returned to China, he experienced a series of political movements, which brought an overwhelming impact onto his life and artistic career. During the Cultural Revolution, he was once forbidden to paint. Later he was allowed to paint once a week. Hardship of life, however, did not stop him from artistic creation. In the pursuit of the beauty of natural scenery, Mr Wu set off his sketching trips. He went to almost every corner of China to make sketches and exhibit his works of art.
To meet the art lovers, Mr Wu specially came to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks. Following the well-received art lecture held on last Saturday (March 16), Mr Wu will perform a sketching demonstration on the coming Saturday (March 23) at 3 pm at the Sculpture Court of the Museum of Art. The great master will make sketches of the splendid panoramic view of Victoria Harbour, and the whole process will be video-taped for showing at the Museum of Art during the exhibition period. Admission for this demonstration will be free. Due to space limitation, a quota of 150 audiences will be made available on a first-come-first-served basis. On top of that, an education pamphlet on Wu's sketching has also been published and available for collection at the Museum of Art.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. It opens from 10 am to 6 pm daily and closes on every Thursday (except public holidays). Admission Fee is $ 10 with half-price concession applicable to full-time students, people with disabilities and senior citizens aged 60 or above. Admission is free on Wednesdays. For enquiries, please call 2721 0116 or visit the Museum of Art's website at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/hkma/
End/Thursday, March 21, 2002
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