Wu Jiahua
Jiahua Wu B.Ach/M.Ach/PhD. 1946 bornin Enshi,Hubei,China.
Lecture:
Southest University,China.
Progessor :
China Academy of Fine Art.
Progessor :
Shenzhen University,China
Visiting Progessor:
The University of Sheffield,UK.Founder of Chinese Environmental Art.
In his early years, Wu Jiahua pursued studies abroad, movingbetween Eastern and Western learning. Not only is he well-versed in architectural design, but he also has a deep passionfor painting—particularly mastering ink-wash art. His ink-washworks are the product of the mutual influence of Eastern andWestern art; leveraging his background in architecture, hedraws interdisciplinary connections that have led to a profoundenlightenment in his painting practice.
Wu Jiahua’s ink-wash art transcends the formal conventions of traditional brush and ink, entering a realm of "metaphysical" expression. In traditional Chinese painting, brush and ink techniques primarily serve to embody "ancient methods"— the mastery of established rules, which falls within the scope of formal aesthetics. Wu, however, abandons these rigid rules entirely: he reconfigures traditional brushwork, rhythmic patterns, and tonal variations, and absorbs the techniques of traditional Chinese ink-wash in a symbolic manner.
This approach subverts and discards the iconic imagery oftraditional Chinese painting, instead expressing through pureform—endowing his works with a tendency toward contemporaryart.
His paintings emphasize the "calligraphic quality" and "uninhibitedspirit" of Chinese ink-wash, evoking a sense of carefree ease(xiaoyao zizai). This quality undoubtedly mirrors the unrulyfreedom in his personality, rooted in the influence of Lao-Zhuangphilosophy. As he himself put it: "Lao-Zhuang philosophy hasgranted me freedom; it has set my mind and spirit free to wanderin leisure ever since."
Ink paintings were collected by University of Sheffield, UK; MAPPIN Gallery, UK; Art Centre of Manchester, UK; Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen; Painting Institution of Shenzhen；Hangzhou West Lake State Guesthouse, etc..
Professional Background
1964-70
Studies architecture at Tongji University, following the master artists such as Shengduo Chen(陳盛鐸), Fangbai Zhou(周方白), Qiuye Wang(王秋野), Ying Zhu(朱鷹), Jizhong Feng(馮紀忠), Mingti Fan(樊明體) , ect.
1970-79
Appointed to Gansu Province (Lanzhou, Tianshui，Wudu), deeply northwest in the mainland far away from Shanghai，impacted by the Culture Revolution
1979
Seizes the chance to take the examination for a graduate programme, for two of his paintings are selected to take part in the National Exhibition of Fine Art twice, which makes him famous enough to get the opportunity
1979-82
Studies in Southeast University, Nanjing, and gets his M.A.
1982-84
Stays in Southeast University as a lecturer, teaching Faculty Architecture
1984-90
Attends Zhejiang Academy of Fine Art, be the Director of Teaching and Research Department of Environmental Art Major
1987
The Lost Village, water color, is the first sold painting on the art fair hold by the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Art with 3000 dollars high price
1990
Visiting professor of Landscape Sciences, University of Reading, UK
1990-91
Steering Professor, MAPPIN Gallery Studio, Sheffield, UK
1991-92
Visiting Professor of Harriet-Ward University, and Edinburgh College of Art, UK
1990-93
Visiting Professor, Department of Landscape Sciences, University of Sheffield, UK; gets his Ph. D
1992
First solo exhibition in Chinese Art Centre, Sheffield, UK
1993
Solo exhibition of water-color and sketch with the Post-modernism style in MAPPIN Gallery, UK; travels to Moscow and back to China
1993-96
Returns to China Academy of Art (once named Zhejiang Academy of Fine Art)；professor of Department of Environmental Art;
1995
Landscape Morphology, the Edwin & Mellen Press, Ltd., UK
1996
Moves to Shenzhen; attends Shenzhen University; professor of College of Architecture and Urban Planning; General Editor of magazine Architectural Worlds;
1999
Advertisement design of UIA shows on the Design Exhibition of National Fine Art Exhibition
2000-2020
More than 93 architecture design projects have been done by him and his studio
2000
Travels to US for editing Architectural Worlds; Figures out his favorite painting style, finally named it Chinese Abstract Expressionism
2002
Publication of Outline of the History of Environmental Design, Chongqing University Press
2004
Publication of Environmental Art Design, Shanghai Painting and Calligraphy Publishing House
2010
Solo exhibition of Chinese paintings in Painting Institution of Shenzhen
2011
Solo exhibition of Chinese paintings in Fine Art Academy of Xi’an
2012
Solo exhibition of Chinese paintings in Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen
2019
Honorary professor, Bauhaus (Dessau)
2020
Master designer of Geotechnical Investigation and Surveying of Shenzhen