He Jianguo (Chinese: 何建国，梨花书屋主人, 1951–2021) is a contemporary Chinese idiosyncratic. He Jianguo is regarded as a twentieth-century artist who is continuing the literati tradition. His brushstrokes and calligraphy are unorthodox and he has no fear of turning his back on traditional methods. He draws heavily on traditional subjects, but offers his own interpretation and takes joy in depicting typical Beijing scenes and the life of his family and friends. As a strong based on Chinese ink artist, he studied privately with many Chinese calligraphy top masters for traditional techniques. In the meanwhile the freedom expressed in his works can be seen as the direct result of not having endured a restrictive art school education.

He seeks to unite the scholaramateur aesthetic, Chinese brush work and certain compositional principle interest in Formalism. Being a great fan of artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne and Kandinsky, He Jianguo uses principles of rhythm to compose his paintings and grid like structure to order the picture surface.

Ink painters are generally labelled conservative, irrespective of their work, because they do not sever ties with Chinese tradition. He Jianguo is not part of the 'avant-garde' but he is one of the few ink painters who are working creatively with what in lesser hands is a stultifying tradition. He seeks to achieve a union of Chinese and Western artistic languages that is relevant to themselves.

Bibliography

Permanent Collection

Collection of New South Wales Art Gallery, Australia [1]

YearTitlePlace of OriginCredit
Mid-Late 20th CenturySerenity (Calligraphy)[2]ChinaGift of Sun Yu 1990
Mid-Late 20th CenturyDrinking under the Moon[3]ChinaAnonymous Gift 1990
1985Portrait of Chen Lang[4]ChinaPurchased 1993
1987Still life[5]ChinaPurchased 1993

Publications

YearTitleAuthorPublisherNotes
2006Rule of BeautyHe Jianguo, Zhang ZikangHebei Education PublishingISBN 7-5434-5967-1
2006Today's Chinese Calligraphy Artist He JianguoHe JianguoHebei Education PublishingISBN 7-5434-6405-5
2006Chinese Most Representative Artist SeriesHe Jianguo, LinuoToday Art Museum, China-
2006Chinese Paintings: Artist of today He JianguoHe Jianguo, XuLeiToday Art Museum, China-
2006INK: Whiteley and othersHe JianguoThe Brett Whiteley StudioNew South Wales, Australia-
2004The Porcelain from He JianguoHe JianguoHebei Education PublishingISBN 7-5434-5130-1
2003The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South WalesHe Jianguo, Jackie MenziesArt Gallery of New South Wales-
1998Contemporary Chinese Artist He JianguoHe JianguoHebei Education PublishingISBN 7-5434-3168-8
1995Art of the Brush: Chinese & Japanese Painting CalligraphyHe Jianguo, Jackie MenziesTrustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales-
1994The Art Gallery of New South Wales collectionHe Jianguo, Ewen McDonaldArt Gallery of New South Wales-
1993Kreatief: Literair En Kunstkritisch TijdschriftHe Jianguo, Mieke BongersBelgium-
1992New Art From China-Post-Mao ProductHe Jianguo, Claire RobertsTrustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales-

References

  1. ^ Works by HE Jianguo Art Gallery NSW, retrieved February 27, 2011
  2. ^ [1] Art Gallery NSW, retrieved December 19, 2011
  3. ^ [2] Art Gallery NSW, retrieved December 19, 2011
  4. ^ [3] Art Gallery NSW, retrieved December 19, 2011
  5. ^ [4] Art Gallery NSW, retrieved December 19, 2011

Books are collected by the following libraries

  • Library of Congress U.S.
  1. https://search.catalog.loc.gov/instances/e17f6bd5-04e9-53cd-912d-ebe46c445391?option=keyword&query=He%20jianguo
  2. https://search.catalog.loc.gov/instances/86ff6068-9dcf-5d81-9e72-3e50cb401a84?option=keyword&query=He%20jianguo