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Qijun Guan(19 August 1950 – ) is a Chinese-Canadian artist who is noted for Chinese Opera, horses and landscape paintings. His primary object is the female opera performer. His work is influenced by expressionism while still maintain the Chinese traditional painting style. Guan's work is defined as "a dividing line between classic and modern Chinese opera figure painting" due to his unique philosophy of aesthetics

He is a member of the Chinese Artist Association(Shanghai), the Chief of Chinese Painting Association(Canada) and a visiting Professor of Calgary University Fine Arts Department(Canada). During the years, Guan's artwork has been exhibited and collected throughout the world including Museum der Kulturen Basel (Switzerland), >>>>Sydney Art Museum (Australia)<<<, University of Calgary Academy of Fine Arts (Canada), and the Zhongbang Group (China).

Life and career
Early life (1970 - 1983)

Guan's painting skills were elevated to a higher level during the Cultural Revolution period when he was asked to produce the propaganda artwork. Due to his keen interest in fine art, at the age of 19, he rejected the offer for studying vehicle design at Shanghai Jiao Tong University which could have been a turning point of the youngster's artistic career. He then was admitted to Shanghai Theatre Academy, the first recommenced university for art, in 1975. Guan came out from thousands of competitors for his excellence in painting and abundant experience. After his graduation, he worked as an illustrator for Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House. During those days, Guan established a close relationship with his mentors Yan Wenliang, He Youzhi and met his lifelong teacher friend Chen Junde.

Guan has been a member of China Artist Association (Shanghai) within a group of distinguished artists, namely Wu Guanzhong and Chen Yifei, since 1982.

Artistic Development (1983 - 2001)

In mid 80s, Guan started being recognised by foreign countries during which he was invited to exhibit his artwork in Australia in 1984, Japan in 1993 and Canada in 1995. After settling in Canada, Guan's painting style experienced a significant shift after being exposed to expressionism. This artistic style introduced an entirely new painting approach for the artist who had immersed himself in painting traditional realistic artwork since the beginning of his career. During his stay, he strived to work out a pathway that could reflect oriental quintessence in both abstract expressionist style and Chinese ink technique. He tried hard to bring in the emotion and charm of Chinese opera where the relationship of those characters, scene and calligraphy are connected through their spirits rather than genuine substances. Guan once described the inspiration of his artwork come from 'the shoulder of a giant' that is the cultural heritage of ancient China over five thousand years.

Guan's innovative and unique painting ideas were well expressed in the Chinese Opera Series. In this series, Guan embellished his artwork with the traditional Chinese aesthetic that is a 'suggestive, reduce-to-max' 'non-realistic Xieyi style'. And the series was proved to be a great success. The painting Where Were We From, Where Will We Go was highly rated by the director of Museum der Kulturen Basel which is the only painting from China division that was selected for the exhibition On Stage The Art Of Beijing Opera .. The theme was inspired by Qu Yuan's Heaven. It shows the ancient Chinese philosophy towards the beginning and ending of human. In the painting, the opera performers are depicted with random unruly brushstrokes but their figures are substantial.

Ms. Wang Xiaoying, the author of Behind the Singing Masks, once commented Guan had used his own artistic language to seamlessly integrate Chinese characteristics with the avant-garde modern art techniques'.

Recent (2002 - )

Guan returned to Shanghai to continue his artistic life in 2002. Since then, he has held numbers of exhibition around the world and his artwork is given high praise from numerous collectors.

He started to practise Chinese landscape painting by applying similar artistic techniques to create a scenery between reality and virtuality. Major elements such as mountains are formed under the free-flowing of paint which are random and coincidental. Trees, clouds or boats are later deliberately painted and merged into the scene to create conflict. A wide range of bright and vivid colours are used that are not usually seen in traditional Chinese landscape paintings.

In 2016, Guan was appointed as Senior Artist at Faculty of Arts Shanghai University. In 2018, he set up Shangmei Art Academy along with UArt21 and other artists.

Exhibition

 * Exhibited in Wenzhou Art Museum (2019)
 * Exhibited in The Legend of the Red Mansion, 300th Anniversary of Cao Xueqin (2015)
 * Exhibited in The Masterpieces of Chinese Opera Figures,120th Anniversary of Zhou Xinfang (2015)
 * Exhibited in Shanghai Art Fair (2014)
 * The Present Dream Of Visiting Garden, Guan Qijun's Solo Painting Exhibition Chinese Opera Characters at Chi Han Art Museum (2013)
 * Mainland & Taiwan Top Ten Artists' Oil Painting Exhibition (2012)
 * "On Stage — The Art of Peking Opera" Exhibition at Basel Museum of Cultures, Switzerland (2011)
 * SoIo Art Exhibition at Shanghai World Financial Culture Media Center, Shanghai, China Mainland (2011)
 * Joint Art Exhibition at National Museum of Cardiff, England (2009)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at Galerie Raeber in Zurich, Switzerland (2008)
 * The 3rd Asia International Art & Antiques Fair, Hong Kong (2008)
 * Solo Painting Show "Golden Synthesis by Guan Qi-Jun' at Ora-Ora Gallery, Hong Kong (2008)
 * The 2nd Asia International Art & Antiques Fair, Hong Kong (2007)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at CHINART Gallery, Shanghai, China (2007)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at AXIS CONTEMPORARY ART Gallery, Canada (2007)
 * "Shanghai Style Celebrities Oil Painting Exhibition for the World of Women". Shanghai. China Mainland (2007)
 * Renowned Artists Painting Show, China Mainland (2006)
 * Chinese-Italian Oil Painting Exhibition (2006)
 * Solo Art Show at TIAN QING Gallery, Shanghai, China Mainland (2006)
 * Solo Art Exhibition "Chinese Memory-Peking Opera Figures Oil Painting Exhibition" No 1st, Xin Tian Di House, Shanghai, China Mainland (2006)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at Galerie Raeber in Zurich, Switzerland (2005)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at YI BO Gallery, Shanghai, China Mainland (2003)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at GOOD EARTH Gallery, Canada (2002)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at WEBSTER Gallery, Canada (2001)
 * Solo Art Exhibition at ART SHOW Gallery, Canada (2000)

Reference
