On September 26th, the "Flow of Time: Yuan Wu's Historical Figure Paintings" exhibition, hosted by the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, opened to the public at the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy Art Museum. The exhibition showcases over 50 historical figure paintings created by renowned artist Yuan Wu over the past 30 years. Coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, Yuan Wu also created a large-scale work, "Binhong Sketch" (260cm x 230cm), which he donated to the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy.
Binhong Sketch, 260×230cm, 2025
Yuan Wu is a leading figure painter in contemporary China. Formerly the Executive Director of the Beijing Academy of Painting, he currently serves as Deputy Director of the Chinese Painting Art Committee of the China Artists Association and a Research Fellow at the China National Academy of Painting. His works emphasize the spirit and temperament of his subjects, employing solid brushwork and rich contrasts.
The exhibition covers a wide range of subjects, including ancient Chinese thinkers such as Lao Tzu and Confucius, literati such as Su Dongpo; famous artists in art history such as Ni Zan, Bada Shanren, Wu Changshuo, Qi Baishi, Huang Binhong, etc.; modern historical figures such as Liang Qichao and Lu Xun; and people in the literary and art circles with ties to Shanghai such as Fu Lei and Feng Zikai.
Exhibition site
Purple Air Coming from the East, 124×280cm, 2011
Several series in the exhibition are particularly noteworthy. Among them, the "Large Portrait Series" is part of a large-scale creative project that Yuan Wu began in 2020. This exhibition features four large paintings, measuring 200cm x 200cm, focusing on cultural figures associated with Shanghai, depicting their faces in close-up.
Master's Small Scene Series No. 1: Kun Can 42×62cm 2023
The "Masters' Small Scenes" series is quite interesting, placing art masters in scenes related to their works, such as "Mr. Changshuo Appreciating Chrysanthemums" and "Mr. Zhaohe Finds Ah Q", which are ingeniously conceived.
In works such as the "Dust Settles Series," Yuan Wu depicts historical figures like Liang Qichao and Lu Xun. Rather than simply judging these figures, he seeks to understand their circumstances and choices within their specific eras. His figures are often set against a backdrop of classical landscapes, which become symbols of culture and spirit.
The exhibition will run until late October 2025.
