Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

An exhibition to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gu Yuan (1919-96), a maestro of lyrical realism, is underway through Sept 3.

On display at the Gu Yuan Museum of Art at 388 East Meihua Road (梅华东路) in New Xiangzhou is his art portfolio, biographical literature, boutique woodprints and watercolors, letters to and from his student and also woodblock printing artist Cao Wenhan, and Cao's commemorative articles and donated documents related to him.

While academic lectures and educational activities were held, the book Gu Yuan Artwork Collections by Gu Yuan Museum of Art was released at the exhibition's opening ceremony on Aug 5. A hundred attendees admired and facsimiled his woodprints.

Visitors admire artwork [Photo by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]

A native of Nazhou Village, Tangjiawan Town, Gu was a classic new-woodblock printmaker. He had served as president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and vice chairman of the Chinese Artists Association.

Gu donated all his important artwork to Zhuhai in his twilight years. The Gu Yuan Museum of Art was built to memorialize him through display of his woodprints, sketches, and watercolors.

The exhibition is being handled by the museum and Zhuhai Artists Association under the sponsorship of China Artists Association and Central Academy of Fine Arts. The Guangdong Artists Association, Publicity Department of the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee, and Zhuhai Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism & Sports Bureau are providing support.