Past Exhibitions>
Tsinghua University Art Museum hosts Bright Glory – The Aesthetics of Yuan Yunfu from August 16 to October 7, 2018. As a significant painter at the turn of the century, Mr. Yuan Yunfu had made great achievements in painting field, especially in exploration of modern colour science and ink painting art modernity, which is worth our deep researches and discussions. About 120 works, including oil paintings, gouaches, ink paintings and colour ink paintings, of Mr. Yuan will be displayed in the exhibition. The intention of this exhibition is, firstly, to cherish the memory of Mr. Yuan Yunfu, who passed away in 2017, and purse an artist's life path and significance in art history through the organisation, interpretation and description of his artistic thoughts and works; and secondly, to delve into the historical traditions and ideological development track of the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University from the perspective of academic context Inheritance of the Academy and through the case study on Mr. Yuan's works.
As a great artist, Mr. Yuan was energetic and intelligent. Regardless of the circumstances, he always discovered the opportunities and turned them to positive directions. His achievements in the field of colour studies were made under such historical situation. In the cadre school with the poorest living conditions, he combined the advantages of Chinese and Western art, complemented them and created unique color experience and aesthetic conception of modern China, which indicated his artistic life with loneliness but also innovations. Same situation could also be seen in his ink parting art. Seeking for spiritual origin from traditional art, he believed that "the Chinese are not lack of colours, and they have deep understanding of and pay special attention to colours!” To this end, he spent 60 years practicing and forming the new ink painting style that merged colors with ink, which promoted the development of modern ink painting art. The greatness of Mr. Yuan as an artist is also reflected by his placing the artistic ideals in the vast social life and historical changes. He firmly believed that art would transform society and make the world a better place! Through decades of efforts, his public art was born and grew up in the land of China and became a part of the ideological emancipation, reform & opening up and social changes. With the Tiananmen Square as the center, his works can be found everywhere in China, from the national palaces, museums, governmental agencies, institutions, schools and memorial halls to public cultural and sports facilities, transportation hubs and parks, which play a significant role in interpreting China’s cultural image.
