Overview
Wu Guanzhong (1919 – 2010) practiced traditional Chinese ink painting in his early years and later ventured into the colourful realm of oil painting. After furthering his studies in France, he made the deliberate choice to return to China, dedicating his life to exploring the integration of Chinese and Western aesthetics. In his later years, he rediscovered the monochromatic appeal of ink painting uniquely and profoundly. Wu’s exceptional life experiences and artistic pursuits have transformed the seemingly cool and unexciting black, white, and grey into the most emotionally resonant and captivating tones, imbued with rich connotations encompassing Western design and traditional Chinese aesthetics. This exhibition showcases a fine selection of Wu’s ink and oil paintings in two phases. Accompanied by insightful excerpts from the artist’s own writings, we invite you to immerse yourself in the art master’s distinctive chromatic aesthetics and explore the boundless passion and imagination evoked within the interplay between black and white.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art received a generous sponsorship of HK$100 million from Wu Keyu, the son of Wu Guanzhong. The “Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship” was established to support a series of programmes in promotion of the art of Wu Guanzhong and related modern Chinese art. This exhibition is made possible by “Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship: Thematic Exhibition Series”. Through a diversity of programmes, the Museum endeavours to shed new light on Wu’s artistic theories.
The exhibition is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has all along promoted Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public learn more about broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.
