Author: 吴冠中
Size: 111*102cm
Signed and dated: Dated 1981
Estimate: Estimate Upon Request
Final Price: --
LITERATURE：Selected Chinese Paintings by Wu Guanzhong， vol.2， p.11， Sichuan Fine Arts Publishing House， Dec.1984； The Art of Wu Guanzhong， p.35， L & F Gallery， Hong Kong， 1987； Wu Guanzhong–A Contemporary Chinese Artist， p.43， Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco， 1989； Monograph–Wu Guanzhong， p.116， Han Mo Xuan Publishing Co.Ltd.， Jul.1990； Paintings by Modern Masters：Wu Guanzhong， p.15， Jinxiu Publishing Co.& People’s Fine Arts Publishing House， China， Jan.1994； Vision and Revision： Wu Guanzhong， p.65， Hong Kong Museum of Art， Oct.1995； Wu Guanzhong–A Selection of Fine works， p.171， L’Atelier Productions Pte.Ltd.， Oct.1996； The Art & Technique of Painting–Wu Guanzhong， p.45， People’s Fine Arts Publishing House， China， Oct.1996； Wu Guanzhong–Ancient City， p.7 & front cover， Han Mo Xuan Publishing Co.Ltd.， Apr.1997； The Art of Wu Guanzhong， p.197， National Museum of History， Taiwan， May.1997； Contemporary Chinese Art Collection（1） Wu Guanzhong， p.84， Mountain Art Museum， Taiwan， Jun.1997； Wu Guanzhong’s Art in 1999， exhibition catalogue， p.191， Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House， Oct.1999； Rainbow of Life：A Painting History of Wu Guanzhong（The New China Great Artists Biography）， p.84， Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House， Mar.1999； About Wu Guanzhong（Selection of articles about Wu Guanzhong）， p.160， Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House， Oct.1999； Wu Guanzhong–Connoisseurs’choice， vol.II， p.56， People's Fine Arts Publishing House， China， Sept.2003.
titled in Chinese and dated 1981； two seals
EXHIBITED：Vision and Revision： Wu Guanzhong， Hong Kong Museum of Art， Oct.1995； Wu Guanzhong： A Contemporary Chinese Artist（Tour Exhibition）， U.S.A， 1989–1990.
Both Wu Guanzhong’s oil paintings and his traditional Chinese paintings are outstanding. He is the only artist in modern China who has combined Chinese culture with modern western art perfectly. The Hometown in Jiao River is a wonderful traditional Chinese painting by him. The composition is complicated in appearance in that Wu Guanzhong wants to exhibit the complex construction of the town to his audiences. The colors that the artist applied to the painting， however， are pure and simple. There is no unnecessary detail in the painting， so that we realize that the painting is concise despite of its complicacy. No one could add anything to the painting， nor could one cut anything from it. The ink spots， which are meaningless apparently， make the painting vivid and vigorous. While the sky is depicted by light green， the red seal at the bottom has made the painting balanced well. It is true that Wu Guanzhong’s Hometown in Jiao River could neither be regarded as a traditional Chinese painting nor be taken as a modern art work， because it is broken all of the rules. It is out of place in both contexts. Nevertheless， it is this “out of place” that makes the painting a great art work. And it is the courage of breaking rules that makes Wu Guanzhong a great artist.
Wu Guanzhong’s “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” has been cognized as a milestone of Mr. Wu Guanzhong’s art accomplishments by academy. This art work has a big influence in the Chinese modern art history. Sixteen years ago， this art work broke the world auction record in Hong Kong， and attracted attention of international art market to Chinese artists.
“From the view of historian， Jiaohe city has millions of stories to tell； from the view of artists， Jiaohe city is a wonderful subject for them to draw history. All history has been condensed to my one square feet painting.” This is the notes Mr. Guanzhong Wu wrote for this art work. “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” is undoubtedly one of highly important representative art works of Mr. Guanzhong Wu. When people are viewing this piece， they should naturally think of another “sister” piece， “Gaochang Ruins”. In 1989， “Gaochang Ruins” was hammered at 1.87 million HK dollars that created a new auction record of Chinese artists’ art works. Two years later， “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” was hammered at 2.55 million HK dollars that created a new auction record of Chinese alive artists in the world again， and this record has not been broken until 2004.
Although the names of these two pieces of art works are different， they all draw the scene at the same location. Today， Jiaohe city is five kilometers away from northwest part of Tulufan， in Sinkiang province. From Western Han Dynasty to late Wei Dynasty， Jiaohe city was the capital of the state of South Cheshi， one of the kingdoms of the Han dynasty （206-220BC）. In year 450， it was consolidated by Gaochang. And then， Gaochang established Jiaohe County here. After Gaochang was annihilated by Tang Dynasty， the old Jiaohe County was dilapidated and a new Jiaohe County was established in late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Based on textual research， the finishing date of “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” was earlier than the date of “Gaochang Ruins”. “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” has more influence and is more important than “Gaochang Ruins”. “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” gave a profound impression and feeling to other artists. This piece depicts thousand of crows and swans flying in the boundless sky that deeply express and imply loneliness of this old city. Many audiences have been convulsed and attracted by this art work. Mr. Guanzhong Wu is the only Chinese artist， who has been approved by Western society. “The Ancient City of Jiaohe” is the most important art work in the mind of collectors of Guanzhong Wu’s art works.
