Culture&Events

Portrait of the artist

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-23 11:09

Wang Xijing is the vice-chairman of the China Art Market Union, a professor at the China Art Research Institute and a director of the China Artists' Association.

Born in Xi'an in Shaanxi province in 1946, Wang is also vice-chairman of Shaanxi Cultural and Art Federation, president of Xi'an Traditional Chinese Painting School and chairman of Xi'an Artists' Association.

He is also professor of China Northwest University, Yunnan University and Xi'an Fine Arts Institute.

One of the country's well-known painters, Wang is a noted expert on the development of traditional Chinese painting. He has published more than 5,000 works in newspapers and magazines over the past four decades and as well as more than 60 books of painting and essays.

He has been named a "National Outstanding Expert" by the State Council and been given a number of honors including "China Artist with Life-Long Achievement", "China Modern Time Pioneer", "China Top 10 Influential People of Reform" and "Shaanxi Industrial Leader".

He was deputy at the ninth and tenth National People's Congress.

Wang has held more than 30 art exhibits in major Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dalian, Zhengzhou and Hefei, and in a dozen of countries and regions including Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

He has been a visiting professor at the Singapore Nanyang Fine Arts Institute, Malaysia Arts Institute and Thailand Oriental Academy.

Wang was awarded "Educational Cultural Insignia" by Japanese Government in 2000. He was given "International Contribution Award" in Seoul International Painting Exhibition in 2002 and won first prize in 2003 Japan-China-South Korea Fine Arts Exhibition and 2003 Beijing International Fine Arts Festival.

He was also awarded special prize at France International Fine Arts Salon Show in 2005.