Artist of the Day | Guo Zhenshan

Guo Zhenshan graduated from the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 1987. He has held numerous important positions, including Head of the Visual Communication Design Department, Dean of the School of Design Art, Dean of the School of Product Design, Director of the Art Creation Research Center, and Vice President of the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts.

He is currently a Council Member of the 9th China Artists Association, Deputy Director of the Design Committee of the China Packaging Federation, Deputy Director of the Design Specialty Steering Committee under the Ministry of Education's Higher Education Steering Committee, Director of the Tianjin Art Professional Degree Education Steering Committee, and Director of the Design Committee of the Tianjin Packaging Technology Association. He has also been honored as one of China's "Top 100 Outstanding Young Design Talents."

Representative Works & Awards

• Mascot & Logo Design: Won First Prize and was adopted for the Mascot and Promotional Poster of the "9th National University Games of the People's Republic of China"; First Prize for the Mascot of the "6th East Asian Games"; Emblem for the "National University Student Art Exhibition"; Mascot for the "13th National Games of the People's Republic of China"; Emblem for the "8th China Quyi Festival"; Mascot for the "10th National Paralympic Games and 7th Special Olympics of the People's Republic of China"; Mascot for the "China Cancer Holistic Integrative Medicine Oncology (CCHIO) Conference"; Mascot "Yuanqi Tubao" (Vitality Bunny) for the "Traditional Health Sports Games of National Traditional Chinese Medicine Universities."

• Painting: The poster "A Nation Prospers Through Adversity" won the Excellence Award at the 11th National Exhibition of Fine Arts and the 1st China Art Creation Awards. The watercolor painting "Variation" was nominated for the Outstanding Work Award at the 11th National Exhibition of Fine Arts. He has consecutively won Gold Medals in the Tianjin Region at the 10th, 11th, and 12th National Exhibitions of Fine Arts.

• Stamp Design: He has designed a series of commemorative and special stamps approved and issued by the State Post Bureau, including: Social Development - Creating the Future Together, The 8th National Games of the People's Republic of China, International Year of Older Persons, APEC 2001 China, Ertan Hydropower Station, Desert Plants, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, 70th Anniversary of the United Nations, The 14th National Games of the People's Republic of China, Hydropower Construction, Modern Bridge Construction, and more.

Professional Critique

Excerpt from the commentary by Professor He Jiaying - Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association:

"Gouache is an extremely popular painting genre in China, while visual communication design is the most intuitive art of information delivery in our globalized era. Mr. Zhenshan has performed outstandingly in both fields. As a renowned gouache painter and an excellent graphic designer, his success today comes not only from his innate artistic talent and long years of accumulation, but also owes much to the spiritual character of 'As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive along.'

Zhenshan's achievements in graphic design are already widely recognized. Naturally, this is closely related to his formal academic background. His solid foundational skills in form and deep cultural heritage allowed his extraordinary potential to shine through even during his university years. If his design talent lies within our expectations, his achievements in the art of gouache painting are a pleasant surprise to the contemporary art world.

Overall, Zhenshan's gouache paintings possess a classic quality: solemn, elegant, highly observant, and rational without losing their spirit. With masterful technique and free control, he perfectly expresses the characteristics of gouache—which rests beautifully between oil painting and watercolor. In terms of technique, he has a precise internal grasp; in visual presentation, he creates an aesthetic realm that transcends the surface. From his gouache creation and research, one can see his exploratory journey from 'having method' (conscious rules) to 'no method' (freedom from rules), and then from 'no method' back to 'having method,' gradually entering the ideal realm of 'the method of no method.' The saying goes, 'to keep or discard is in the heart; to lengthen or shorten is in the hands.' What appears to be spontaneous is, in fact, the result of profound accumulation."

Friendship and Art

Excerpt from the article by Professor Dong Kecheng - Member of the Watercolor Art Committee, China Artists Association, and Professor at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts:

"In the flow of time, some friendships are like aged wine, growing richer and more mellow over the years. Mr. Zhenshan and I are not only confidants of the same age but also close classmates. We went through the years of our youth together and navigated our way forward on the path of art side by side. Even during our school days, Zhenshan was a remarkable presence. With his extraordinary talent, diligent learning attitude, and excellent academic performance, he won the praise of our teachers and the admiration of our peers. (...)

In the brilliant galaxy of watercolor art, Mr. Zhenshan has presented us with visual feasts through his unique artistic style and exquisite painting techniques. He flawlessly integrates the techniques of watercolor and gouache, while subtly harmonizing the essence of Eastern and Western art (such as the sense of volume, straight lines, and curves). His works inherit the essence of traditional painting while incorporating modern artistic elements, showcasing a one-of-a-kind artistic charm.

Deeply influenced by the foreign master John Singer Sargent, he has absorbed the essence of Sargent's painting techniques while embedding profound reflections on life philosophy. His artworks are not merely a pure display of art but a revelation of his understanding of life, achieved through a precise balance of connotation and extension. His paintings exhibit external beauty while unearthing deep-seated meanings; this profound comprehension and unique expression make his works highly infectious.

For example, "Crisscross, Square, and Circle" uses objects to express emotion, articulating the painter's deep understanding of life and art. In terms of artistic technique, he insists on combining transparent and opaque watercolors, producing both spontaneous artistic effects and exquisite depictions of details. Variation in Black, White, and Gray, on the other hand, uses the contrast of lightness and purity in black, white, and gray tones to metaphorically represent the elegant charm of different musical notes and melodies, perfectly demonstrating the unique effects of gouache painting.

I firmly believe that as time goes by, Mr. Zhenshan's artistic achievements will be increasingly recognized and esteemed by the public. His artistic creations, much like his low-key and introverted personality, will remain timeless. I sincerely hope that Mr. Zhenshan will continue to advance on his artistic path, constantly creating more outstanding works, and making greater contributions to the future development of Chinese watercolor art."

Source: 攻夫水彩