Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
When Guan Naiping was 14, his first oil painting Morning won the second prize of National Children Art Exhibition. After then, he was admitted into the affiliated high school of Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
In 1983, Guan Naiping sailed easterly to Japan and started his overseas study at the Tokyo University of the Arts. During that period, he was fortunate to be instructed by some famous painters like Kayama Matazo and Yanchu Yingxiong.
Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo, Japan
In 1983, Guan Naiping sailed easterly to Japan and started his overseas study at the Tokyo University of the Arts. During that period, he was fortunate to be instructed by some famous painters like Kayama Matazo and Yanchu Yingxiong.
Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
When Guan Naiping was 14, his first oil painting Morning won the second prize of National Children Art Exhibition. After then, he was admitted into the affiliated high school of Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Guan Naiping was born in Beiping (now Beijing) in 1945 to the family of a Chinese watercolor artist Guan Guangzhi. His name, Naiping, means peace. Under the influence of his father, Guan Naiping has gotten zealous with paintings since childhood.
When Guan Naiping was 14, his first oil painting Morning won the second prize of National Children Art Exhibition. After then, he was admitted into the affiliated high school of Central Academy of Fine Arts. In 1983, he sailed easterly to Japan and started his overseas study at the Tokyo University of the Arts. During that period, he was fortunate to be instructed by some famous painters like Kayama Matazo and Yanchu Yingxiong. In 1985, Guan Naiping went to Kyoto and Nara in Japan to study art and the history of the cultural communication between China and Japan.
After graduation, Guan Naiping stayed as a teacher at school. Now he was titled Director and Professor of Chinese Ink and Wash at Tokyo University of the Arts, Guest Professor of Central Academy of Fine Arts and China Academy of Art, Chinese Overseas Advisor, the Chairman of the Association of Japanese International Ink and Wash Communication, etc. Guan Naiping got a comprehensive understanding and practice in terms of the cultural art about tradition and modernity, East and West. By exploring through the mingling of traditional Chinese painting with the exotic culture, he developed a hazy, elegant and brisk painting style, leveling himself up to be a renowned painter of enormous influence with an international vision
Guan Naiping has devoted himself to the communication of culture and art between China and Japan for a long time. He helped establish a friendly relationship between Tokyo University of the Arts and Central Academy of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts and China Academy of Art as well. He officially set up the first department of Chinese painting overseas in Tokyo University of the Arts and held the post of director and professor there. He was once employed as Minister in the Japanese Department of International Educational Communication Center of Arts by Central Academy of Fine Arts. Through his recommendation, Kayama Matazo was helped to become the honorary professor of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and thus was able to give lectures in Beijing. He was also once employed as Representative of Chinese Artists Association and Chinese Painting Art Committee to Japan. Guan Naiping was elected to be the chairman when “Association for International Ink and Wash Exchange” was officially established. His work The Textbook for Ink and Wash: Learning from Central Academy of Fine Arts was then published, which actually disseminated the art of Chinese traditional ink and wash. During his 30 years’ stay in Japan, Guan Naiping has become a well-known and influential folk messenger for spreading cultural art. The positive contribution he made in the spreading and communicating of cultural arts between China and Japan cannot be neglected.
Guan Naiping held admiration to the east-expedition deed of the Chinese monk Jianzhen, thus breeding his will of showing “the Maritime Silk Road” in painting. During three decades, Guan Naiping toured along the “Land Silk Road” and the “Maritime Silk Road” many times for exploring, observing and drawing local customs and natural landscapes, leaving his footprints over the northwest part of China, Central Asia and West Asia countries along the Silk Road and Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and European countries along the Maritime Silk Road. He has collected plenty of resources and materials on this trip, creating a series of painting works about “the Land Silk Road” and “the Maritime Silk Road” and at the meantime holding several exhibitions with the theme of “Silk Road” at home and abroad. In this way, he has helped broadcast “Silk Road” and its culture as well as promoted folk friendship and communication among nations, making a big contribution to the spreading of Chinese culture and art.
Guan Naiping managed to acquire the status of an artistic ambassador and prominent modern Chinese painter that establishes artistic bridges between cultures. He has earned a reputation of the folk messenger who was attached to the Silk Road and disseminated the Chinese culture and art all along. His paintings are exposed in China and internationally and his works stay in line with his country's modern policy One Belt One Road.
Blossoms of April
A Snowy Landscape of Northern Europe
Through Wind and Waves
Barcarolle
Eryu Bridge in the Rain
Feng Bridge in Suzhou
Spring Water
Rowing above the blue waves
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Venice
Vietnam
The Inland Sea of Japan
The Rhine
The Mekong
Rhyme of Venice
Phantom of Guilin
Autumn of Tokyo Shindaiji Temple
Amsterdam
Alaska
Guan Naiping has been to Hangzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo for exploration, collection and drawing of local customs and landscapes. At that time he worked out a great many paintings and also got a new idea for his works with the theme of “Silk City” and “Silk Road”. His paintings reflect the beauty of the Silk Road, embodied patriotic feelings and carried forward the long history of the cultural exchange between China and other countries. Coincidentally, under the recommendation of his old friend - Ren Daobin, Professor of the China Academy of Art, Guan Naiping met and discussed with Zhejiang Art Museum, hoping to exhibit this series of works. He was also kindly willing to donate 80 pieces of his works on the theme of “Silk City, Silk Road”, for which we felt very honored.
