The photography exhibition Portraitures of Wu Guanzhong By Chua Soo Bin, features a collection of photos of Wu Guanzhong in the 1980s and 1990s taken by Chua Soo Bin. These sixty invaluable portraits expressively document Wu Guanzhong’s work and travel in Singapore, Indonesia, Britain, and France.

　　Following the exhibition Art Nurtures Life: Celebrating 100 Years of Wu Guanzhong in 2019, the current exhibition is a photographic documentary of this art maestro. His vivid image in these photos serves as an annotation on his works and a depiction of a profile of his spirit. From these excellent photos, we can not only see a master’s serious attitude at work but also sense the great strength of a slender old man wielding his paintbrush along with the wisdom of a great thinker. What is even more admirable is that we are given the opportunity to perceive the master’s humane side and his tranquil temperament in life.

　　Last year, the Museum set up Wu Guanzhong Hall in the existing space to display Wu Guanzhong’s works and documents along with works by other artists who are influenced by his artistic style. Chua Soo Bin documented a group of outstanding Chinese artists in the 20th century for his project. Among these documentations, the record of Wu Guanzhong is particularly comprehensive and detailed. This exhibition is a generous contribution by Chua Soo Bin at the invitation of the Museum. We are also deeply grateful for his donation of all the works in this exhibition to the Museum.

　　Undoubtedly, vivid expression is a major feature of photography as an art form. It freezes an ephemeral moment of life and creates relative immortality one after another. This exhibition is not only a far-reaching echo to “Art Nurtures Life”, but also a commemoration of the significant inauguration of Wu Guanzhong Hall.

　　Su Dan

　　Vice Director of Tsinghua University Art Museum

　　July 21, 2020