The exhibition Folk Song—retrospective exhibition of Zhang Guangyu’s art will be opened on 31st Oct. 2012 at Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy. The exhibition was hosted by China Artists Association, Beijing Fine Art Institution, Art Academy of Tsinghua University and co-organized by Bai Yaxuan Art Institution; the exhibition is included in the Series Exhibition of 20th Century Chinese Masters. The artist’s achievements like caricature, decoration art, illustration, movie art etc. will be displayed in the exhibition, and it is the first time that Folk Song meets the audience, the art work is also a song for humanity, love and folk literature.

          In 1920s, with the background of western culture impact, a research trend on folk song begun popular in literature and art circle. Mr.Zhang Guangyu also interested in folk songs in this period, and he painted the Folk Song, then it was published in the magazine Cartoon Time in 1930s.Zhang Guangyu described his feelings in the preface :folk song is true to emotions and everyday life…some of them describe images, the more I listened the more images come to me. For preserving these true feelings, besides 31 original paintings, the exhibition also made copy of 44 paintings which can not be find due to the war, though this way audience can get a general ideal of Zhang Guangyu’s art and his feelings.

        From Painting to Printing

        According to Prf.Yuan Yunfu’s (Art Academy of Tsinghua University) recall: Zhang Guangyu painted in large scale and then looked it though a lens that can make the image as small as in the publishing, to find a balance between painting and printing. As an expert who also knows printing, he considered the printing elements during his painting, considering this aspect; the exhibition enlarged some of these printings to make the painting effect reappear. Folk Song is one of them, and though the enlarged image, audience can see details more clearly. Some handwriting on paintings was also reserved in the exhibition, audience can understanding these paintings though reading texts written by the artist.

        An Artist with Different Talents

        Zhang Guangyu studied art since 13 years old, during his 50 years art career; he made art works in different areas: advertisement design, book design, stage design, movie design, illustration etc. Even today a lot of art works are still classic design in its field.

        Folk Song which painted by Zhang in his early years is in a gentle style, the lines are soft and the painting structures are simple, after the publishing in the magazine Cartoon Time, it influenced widespread in the society. Journey to the West reflects the justice power, this art work’s style not only in a strong character and bright colors, but also full of Chinese traditional art’s charming.

        The special way of study art make Zhang Guangyu influenced different art field in later generations; he proved that there is no barrier between design, fine art, decoration etc, and his wisdom and creativity contended in his paintings are treasures for the public.

        Though the exhibition, audience can have an overlook on Zhang Guangyu, a man with wisdom, a man as a pioneer of art, and an artist should not be forgotten by the history.