In 2009, internationally acclaimed master of painting Wu Guanzhong offered Hong Kong another generous donation of 33 paintings. Following his donations in 1995 and 2002, the new gift includes 12 oil paintings and 21 ink paintings done between 2005 and 2009. The donation will become a significant permanent collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

Being a significant figure of Chinese art history in the 20th century, Wu has made a major contribution to the integration of Chinese and Western art. Wu was born in 1919 in Yixing, Jiangsu. In 1946, he won a scholarship to study at the prestigious Ecole Nationale Supérieur des Beaux-arts in Paris. In 1950, he returned to China and was assigned to teach at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and later transferred to other institutions. In 1991, he was made an Officer de L’Ordre des Arts et des Letters by the Ministry of Culture of France. In 1992, he became the first living Chinese artist to have a solo exhibition at the British Museum. In 2002, he was the first Chinese artist awarded the Médaille des Arts et Lettres by the Académie des Beaux-arts de L’Institut de France. In 2006, the Chinese University of Hong Kong granted Wu an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.

In order to honour Wu’s generous donations and to share this heartfelt gift with the community, the Museum of Art will stage a special exhibition which 51 artworks of Wu’s latest donation along with the Museum’s collection.

Image: The farthest corner of the world, 2009, Oil on canvas, Donated by Mr Wu Guanzhong