A new exhibition featuring the works of Wu Hufan opened at the China Art Museum in Shanghai. As a painter, calligrapher, collector, and connoisseur, Wu Hufan was one of the most respected generalists of the 20th century.
Born into a family with generations of scholar-officials in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, Wu received a classical education. He moved to Shanghai in 1924. With his family's extensive collection of paintings, calligraphy, and seal carving, he solidified his foundation in traditional culture by learning from Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) painters.
Chen Xiang, Vice President of Shanghai Artists Association said Wu has unique techniques in texturing and shading, such as the combination of ink and blue-green colors, and incorporation of perspective. This approach enhances the depth and makes his Chinese paintings resemble photography in their richness of layers and Western paintings in their vivid colors.
In the early 20th century, amid the introduction of Western painting, traditional Chinese painting faced significant challenges. Visionaries actively promoted the transformation of Chinese painting from traditional to modern forms. Wu's path was one less traveled.
Chen explained that Xu Beihong introduced the fundamental concepts of sketching and color into Chinese painting. Lin Fengmian went further by integrating many elements and techniques of Western art into Chinese painting. Their works clearly reflect Western influences. In contrast, Wu Hufan adhered to the traditions of Chinese art, using certain Western techniques to enrich the expressive power of traditional Chinese painting. These two different paths both contributed to the modernization of traditional Chinese painting.
This year marks the 130th anniversary of Wu Hufan's birth and the 100th anniversary of his relocation to Shanghai. The exhibition is the first in a series featuring artists of Shanghai-style painting. Chen said the series will last for five years, with exhibitions dedicated to one or two artists each year.
