Even among the dazzling stars of contemporary Chinese painting community, Guo Shaogang shines brighter as an outstanding oil painter, sketch artist, and art educator. He has created many exemplary works with universal praise, such as Girl in Colorful Skirt (sketch and pastel drawing) and Girl in Yellow (oil painting). In his early years, Guo Shaogang graduated from the Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where he was taught by modern Chinese masters such as Xu Beihong, Li Keran, and Wu Zuoren, laying a solid foundation integrating the art throughout the ages and across the world. Shortly thereafter, he was sent by the state to study at the Oil Painting Department of the renowned Repin St. Petersburg State Academy Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in the Soviet Union, under the famous professors such as Yuri Niprintsev. After graduating with honors and returning to China, he has taught at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and has previously served as its dean. He is the founder of the Education Department of the Academy, and has been awarded the honorary professor title by the Repin St. Petersburg State Academy Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, and the Pushkin Medal by the Russian Ministry of Culture.

 

During his study in the Soviet Union, Guo Shaogang mastered the techniques of Russian realistic painting in a systematic and excellent manner. In his long-term teaching and creation practice, he extensively studies classic originals throughout the ages and across the world, delves into the essence of Chinese and foreign art theory, and integrates the rigorous form and profound connotation of Russian art works, the aesthetic sense, form and color of Western modern painting, as well as the advantages of Chinese art such as romantic charm and poetic imagery. Therefore, he transcends the common realistic paintings, and creates masterpieces that are profound, touching, and elegant, making important contributions to oil painting nationalization.

 

The Guangdong Museum of Art has delved into and systematically sorted out the creation process of famous Chinese oil painters. This exhibition showcases Guo Shaogang’s masterpieces in oil paintings, sketches, pastel drawings, and other works created from 1955 to 2009. The exhibition includes four sections: “The Spirit and The Soul”, “The Profound and The Momentous”, “Classic Works of Masters”, and “Elegant Charm”. They systematically demonstrate the creative methods of this renowned painter in the history of Chinese sketching and oil painting. Most exhibits were selected from the precious collections of the Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, most of which are exquisite oil paintings and sketches created in the Soviet Union, and others from the collection of Guangdong Museum of Art, among which three oil painting masterpieces, including Peony Flowers Come into Bloom, are currently on display in the Bai’etan GBA Art Center of Guangdong Museum of Art.