Introduction to the international contemporary artist Zhu Wei
Zhu Wei (born in 1958), international contemporary artist, a representative figure in the Chinese contemporary art world who is both internationally and domestically recognized. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from the Fine Arts College of Harbin Normal University, Heilongjiang Province, China in 1983, he pursued further training in the Oil Painting Research Class of Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China, and graduated in 1991. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1992 and then promoted to Full Professor in 1995. He moved to New York, USA in 1997 and was appointed as the president of the American Research Association of Eastern and Western Arts in 2005. In 2006, he served as the Solo Expert Judge of the 76th United States National Art League fine arts competition. In the same year, he was appointed as a visiting professor by the Graduate School of Chinese National Academy of Arts.
In 2018, China State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs appointed Zhu Wei as a Category A foreign expert to work in China. He was also appointed as professor and executive director of Tsung-Dao Lee Center of Sciences and Arts of UCAS (University of Chinese Academy of Science), president of the Sciences and Arts Development Fund of the UCAS Education Foundation, council member of the UCAS Education Foundation, chairman of China Society of Contemporary Art (Hong Kong), and the Director of the Science and Arts Expert Committee for the Home of Nobel Laureates.
Over the years, Zhu Wei’s artworks have gone through three transformational stages: classical, modern, and contemporary. Initially, his works adopted classical style, techniques, and impressionist palettes for around a decade (1979-1989). During this time, he shifted away from the mainstream art community consensus that viewed the Russian schools of thought as the gold standard, to turn to the Western Classicism techniques, and reached the first peak in his artistic career. During this period, his works were selected to be exhibited in the 6th and 7th China National Art Exhibition and the 1st Chinese Oil Painting Exhibition. His award-winning and published works demonstrated signature characteristics of the classical style. As a new graduate in his 20s, he won the very prestigious Award of Excellence in the 6th China National Art Exhibition.
In 1989, having gained new insights in his artistic journey, Zhu Wei entered the stage of modern arts creation and paid more attention to the works of great Western modern art masters. He also began to pursue the artistic philosophies of Abstraction in the Concrete, Emotions in Rationality, and Representation within Presentation. With these ideas, he created many landscapes, portraits, and thematic works which were selected to be exhibited in the 8th China National Art Exhibition, the 2nd and 3rd Chinese Oil Painting Exhibition, the 1st, the 2nd and the 3rd Chinese Oil Painting Biennale, and many other art exhibitions at the national level. Again, he won the Award of Excellence in the 8th China National Art Exhibition. When he moved to the United States in 1997 and stood on the international art stage for the first time, Zhu Wei reflected on the path of his artistic pursuit up to that point and found that his Asian cultural background gave him a unique artistic language and an arsenal of cultural symbolism to apply to his oil works. In the first few years after moving to America, he created a vast number of characters, landscapes, still life, and other series of works in his own style incorporating his unique symbolic artistic language by synergizing Eastern cultural elements. Thus, the world witnessed the birth of a new Master of Modern Art. Mr. Mike Miller, a well-known American critic wrote in his article entitled “Painting, the Language of the World” in the National Art league of the United States: “Professor Zhu Wei, a master of art, once again entertained us with his pictorial Language.” From 1997, Zhu Wei held solo exhibitions in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Phoenix, etc., and signed contracts with many galleries. He participated in art exhibitions held by the American art institutions, and won the Grand Winsor Newton Award of Excellence, Award of Excellence from Mt. St. Mary College, and Award of Honor from the National Arts League. His works were included in many contemporary art auctions held by Hong Kong Henry Auction Company, China Poly Group Corporation, and were widely collected by National Art Museum of China and other artistic institutions, foundations, universities and collectors all over the world.
After entering the 21st century in the world’s art center, New York, Zhu Wei’s understanding of art and artistic philosophies evolved tremendously. He believed that the main tenants for creating significant and valuable artworks varied greatly in different periods of art history. When entering the contemporary art period, it is a completely different paradigm compared to the modern art and classical art periods. You may leave your own footprints in the history of art and become a Master of Art only if you make a mark in the framework of core values of contemporary art. Zhu Wei reached a new level of understanding on his art journey, driven by his new concepts. New York Art wrote in an exclusive interview with Zhu Wei, “his artistic language has been transformed into an examination of the world with a few words. This examination said that every one of his paintings is marked with profound descriptions of fundamental issues that are relevant to the fate of each and every one of us.” Zhu Wei’s change, namely concept replacing language, made him a true contemporary artist with international influence. With the creation of large scale works such as Three-Member Family series, The Garden of Eden series, Global Search Program series, Mobile Phone Self-timer series, Respect to the Great Masters series, Stunning Beauty series, Men and Women series, etc., Zhu Wei achieved new heights on the international contemporary art stage, while carving a space for Chinese contemporary artists in the art world. In 2006, the United States National Art League appointed Zhu Wei as the solo expert judge for the 76th National Art League Exhibition, notably, the first Asian judge since the founding of the League a hundred years ago.
Based on the creation and research results in various stages, Zhu Wei published a great number of articles and academic papers in journals such as Art Magazine, Art Research, Fine Art Literature, Chinese Oil Painting, Literature and Art Criticism, New York Art, and other professional journals both in China and the United States. Some notably articles include: “Zhu Wei’s Personal Profile and His Academic Views” published in Middle-aged and Young Social Science Professor Survey in 100 Chinese Colleges and Universities, “Expectations and Obstacles” published in Literature and Art Criticism, “Alter Normal Vision and Enrich Emotional World” published in China Correspondence Education, “Tradition and Individuality” published in Chinese Oil Painting, “Western Traditional Painting and the Tendency of Post- representationalism in Chinese Contemporary Art” published in the Collection of Essay for the 6th International Conference on East & West Cross-Cultural Exchange (Arizona State University, USA), “Travel from Yesterday to Today” published on Chinese Oil Painting, “Two Exhibitions One Park” published in Chinese Oil Painting, “State of Mind-Man Chun Xin Hua” published in China by Shandong Art Publishing House, “Just Few Words” published in Chinese Oil Painting. From these articles and papers, one can observe Zhu Wei’s approach to exploring the artistic world and his transformations from classical art to modern art and finally to the arena of international contemporary art over time.
Promote the works
In order to promote his philosophies and ideas on contemporary art, Zhu Wei gave lectures and demonstrations at the request of the National Art League of the United States, Long Island Academy of Art, New Jersey Academy of Art and other Universities. The China Network Broadcast of New York also created a special program “Professor Zhu Wei Talks about Art” to educate and reach a wide range of audiences. He was invited by China Institute in New York to give lectures on Chinese Contemporary Art Current Trends and Future Direction entitled “Trans-boundary and Crossing” in 2007 and on Chinese Contemporary Art History and Development entitled “Contemporary Art in China” in 2008. In 2015, China Central Television's "Art Masters and Struggle" program filmed and broadcasted a large-scale feature film "Across East and West, Art Explorer: Zhu Wei". In 2016, he was invited by the same TV program to be a member of the Expert Review Team. Over the years, Zhu Wei’s artistic achievements have attracted wide attention from the international art community. His speeches and works were reported, reprinted, and commented extensively on many platforms such as Sohu.com, Baidu App, China Science Journal, IQIYI, and Phoenix News.
At present, Zhu Wei focuses his attention on his work in UCAS as Executive- director of the Tsung-Dao Lee Center of Sciences and Arts. He proactively develops and practices the concept, “Science & Art Interlinking and Science & Art Integrating”, advocated by Mr. Tsung-Dao Lee, by giving lectures on art appreciation for science and engineering students in UCAS, and curating “Dialogue with the Master”, a series of art events, for the purpose of developing outstanding talents with creativity and promoting scientific and technological innovation and the development of Chinese contemporary art. The teaching philosophy of viewing science and art as two equally important key foundations for all advancements provides a new way of thinking, especially for the reform of higher education in China. Zhu Wei’s work has a deep and remarkable impact on his students and has attracted great attention from educational authorities in China looking to continuously develop and improve the educational system for future generations.
