Past
WU GUANZHONG AND CHUA SOO BIN: FRIENDSHIP OF MASTERS
Wu Guanzhong and Chua Soo Bin
13 Apr – 18 Jun 2024
10am – 6pm
Autumn Joy, 1990, Collotype Prints, 44.5cm x 53cm, Wu Guanzhong
Exhibition Details:
WU GUANZHONG AND CHUA SOO BIN: FRIENDSHIP OF MASTERS
13 Apr – 18 Jun 2024
10am – 6pm
Artists:
Wu Guanzhong
Chua Soo Bin
Curators:
Audrey Zhang
Rick Shi
Assistant Curators:
Li Yan
Wu Shangying
Prestige Art Gallery:
63 Market Street
Bank of Singapore Centre
#01-01
Singapore 048942
Prestige Art Gallery Unveils: The Artistry Convergence of Wu Guanzhong and Chua Soo Bin — The Artistic Fusion of Exemplary Maestros
Cultivating Bonds in Artistry
The name of this exhibition is derived from the friendship between artists, an extraordinary bonding rooted in the origins of Singapore. It aims to describe the relationship between two masters, from acquaintance to collaboration in creating artworks, culminating in a relationship akin to mentorship and friendship. When discussing the collaborative relationship of mentorship and friendship in Singaporean art history, one of the most classic examples is the relationship between Wu Guanzhong and Chua Soo Bin.
Convergence of Creative Titans
Wu Guanzhong and Chua Soo Bin are both prominent figures in the 20th-century art world. Despite their divergent styles, they share a deep respect and friendship. Wu Guanzhong is senior to Chua Soo Bin, playing a significant role in the contemporary ink artt movement in Singapore. His works emphasise the relationship between lines and colours, pioneering unique styles in New Ink painting. Chua Soo Bin, inspired by Wu Guanzhong’s photography, decided to collaborate on a series of photographic light-painting artworks.
Alchemy of Expression: Where Artistry Mingles
Their friendship reflects a passionate exchange of artistic ideas. Wang Huaiqing once wrote in Beijing: “This is a record of one artist by another artist, a record of yesterday met for tomorrow not yet past.” This statement fully illustrates the mutual respect and friendship between the two masters.
Wu Guanzhong（1919 – 2010）
Wu Guanzhong (August 29, 1919 – June 25, 2010), also known as Tu, was a Chinese painter and art educator born in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China. He was a pioneering figure in modern Chinese painting, blending Western and Eastern influences to create unique artworks. Graduating from the National Academy of Art, Wu studied under renowned artists Fang Ganmin and Pan Tianshou, exploring both oil painting and Chinese ink techniques.
Throughout his career, Wu focused on the nationalisation of oil painting and the modernisation of Chinese painting. His innovative approach, known as “color ink painting,” earned him acclaim as one of trio, alongside Zhu Dequn and Zao Wou-Ki that redefines the 20th-century modern art scene, not just in the East, but worldwide. Often hailed as the “Three Musketeers” of Chinese Modern Art, the three highly esteemed artists were the pioneers of their generation, integrating traditional Chinese painting techniques into Western abstractionism. In 2008, Wu generously donated 113 of his works to the National Gallery Singapore, further cementing his legacy in the art world.
Three Beauties, 1990, Collotype Prints, 67cm x 72cm
Jiangnan Houses, 1990, Collotype Prints, 62cm x 68cm
A Village House in Spring, 1990, Collotype Prints, 44.5cm x 53cm
Chua Soo Bin（1932 -）
Singaporean photographer Chua Soo Bin led a diverse career throughout his lifetime, excelling as a renowned photographic master, artistic director, art dealer, and art patron. These varied roles seamlessly intertwined due to his deep-rooted connection to the arts. In his early twenties, he was an active member of the Singapore Photographic Society and obtained the Associate distinction from the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain in 1955. His work Harvesting the Beach was featured in the annual publication Photograms of the Year, showcasing the best photographic works from around the world. From the 1960s to the 1980s, Chua Soo Bin found success as an advertising photographer, producing creative campaigns for clients such as Singapore Airlines, earning recognition for his innovative concepts and imagery. Starting from the mid-1980s, he embarked on ambitious personal projects, notably gaining fame for his portraits of artists. His contributions to the arts led to him being awarded the Cultural Medallion by the Singaporean government in 1988.
Chua Soo Bin’s portrait of Wu Guanzhong has been exhibited at the former Parliament House Art Gallery (Singapore, 2017), Tsinghua University Art Museum (China, 2020), and is now part of the collections of the National Gallery Singapore, Tsinghua University, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and private collectors.
Wu Guanzhong: Infinite Dots & Lines, 1988, Photography, 49.2cm x 32.8cm
