The Guide of My Life - Mr. Zhang Shaoxia

Liu Weidong

Former President of Nanjing University of the Arts, Professor of Art History

Liu Weidong

Good afternoon, esteemed predecessors, colleagues, classmates, and faculty members. Seeing so many familiar faces again, I feel like I'm traversing time. I encountered these faces forty years ago when I came to Nanjing University of the Arts (NUA). Back then, I was 24 years old. Today, I’m 64, but I still feel that we're in our prime. Mr. Zhang has been the guide of my life. When we first met in the early 1980s, I was studying English Language and Literature at Nanjing Normal University, and he was sitting in on our English classes as a graduate student of NUA. I believe Mr. Zhang was destined for success. Why did I say he was the guide of my life? Because he steered me towards the learning of Western art history. During his graduate studies, he has already completed six textbooks with a million words on Western art history. Later, when I enrolled as a graduate student at NUA under Professor Liu Ruli, we became truly fellow disciples as we were both Liu's students. By reading these six textbooks, I came to NUA. So without Mr. Zhang, I might have missed this opportunity with NUA; at least one thing is for sure, I, Liu Weidong, wouldn't have been the president of NUA from 2014 to 2021. 

I'm also immensely grateful to Mr. Zhang. When he proposed organizing an art exhibition at NUA, Li Xiaoshan, Lin Shuchuan, and I collaborated on this meaningful endeavor. I feel that many young people present here might not be familiar with NUA's history or Mr. Zhang's contributions. Allow me to assure you responsibly that Mr. Zhang has made significant contributions to NUA. As a top-ranking institution among the nation’s comprehensive universities and 32 art schools, NUA is mainly strong in its disciplines. Back in 1986, when Mr. Zhang was the head of the Teaching and Research Section at NUA’s Office of Academic Affairs as the youngest associate professor, I was a graduate student, and the Ministry of Education was initiating the second batch of doctoral programs. While we thought that doctoral programs were distant dreams, Mr. Zhang believed that our school must apply for the program due to his academic sensitivity. If we had missed that opportunity, we might still be groping through the darkness today. At that time, Mr. Zhang entrusted me with two tasks, that is, to register two doctoral supervisors, one being Mr. Liu Ruli and the other being Mr. Zhang Daoyi. Later, Mr. Lin Shuzhong and Mr. Zhou Jiyin were added to the list. The application requires materials, but Mr. Liu had no significant publications at that time, except for a book on ancient Egyptian art history published by Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House. It was a freshly revised sample book and Mr. Zhang instructed me to retrieve it. I took a 6-hour train journey to Shanghai, went to Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House at No. 667 Changle Road, and brought back the book as part of the application materials to the Ministry of Education. Think about how much documentation is required today to apply for a doctoral program. NUA took a bold step by submitting just a sample book and eventually, its doctoral program was approved. From then on, NUA's discipline construction embarked on the right track, leading to significant achievements. We have five art disciplines: Fine Arts with an A+, Design with an A, Music and Dance with an A-, Art Theory with an A-, and Drama and Film with a B+. These achievements are unparalleled nationwide and rare among art schools. Therefore, since then, Mr. Zhang's steadfast commitment to academia and his sensitivity have influenced all the successors of NUA. It was like a cosmic explosion from which NUA evolved to what it is today. It’s something we should never forget about. Later, you can visit the exhibition hall and see the textbooks and books written by Mr. Zhang. In the 1980s, resources were scarce, yet his books such as History of European Art Development, History of World Arts and Crafts, and History of Modern Chinese Painting were adopted by many schools as textbooks. Many of us here are doctoral supervisors, and we all considered these books as essential readings at that time. They laid the foundation for NUA's development and textbook construction.

Beautiful Water Hazard (Pelican Hill Golf Course) 120×65cm Oil on Canvas 2023

Mr. Zhang has been caring towards me. Sometimes, we had deep conversations about life. That's why I say he's destined to be a winner in life. Once, perhaps he doesn't remember, he said, "Even if there were fifty thousand yuan placed on Purple Mountain right now, I wouldn't go get it." That was in the 1980s. On hearing that, I thought, "I would go get it if there were five hundred yuan under a rock on Purple Mountain." Because we only earned a hundred yuan a month back then. Why not climb the Purple Mountain and get five hundred at a time? I didn't believe what he said. But later, when he left NUA and became a successful businessman traveling the world, I’m convinced that he wouldn't go get it. Although Mr. Zhang navigates in the business world, he was born for art. In the 1990s, he compiled a 20-volume series named The World’s Famous Paintings Collection. I believe that it is because he sensed his remorse, or artistic passion and pursuit amidst his dealings in the business world, and compiled this impressive and award-winning book series. When Mr. Zhang plays golf, he has one eye on the golf ball, and the other on the surrounding scenery. He is moved by nature and art. I believe what his heart truly calls for is an artistic sentiment. It nudges him to pick up the paintbrush again and return to art creation. I think it is a genuine return to his essence and his roots. This time, his works are exhibited at the Art Museum of NUA, back to his alma mater where he once studied and worked, which is meaningful. It not only allows us old friends to reunite but also enables young classmates and professors to witness the demeanor of senior teachers and professors of NUA and gain insights from Mr. Zhang’s life choices and transformations. 

For us, life is sometimes about choices. We often talk about doing addition and subtraction. Adding requires perseverance while subtracting requires courage. Although Mr. Zhang still engages in some administrative work, he has devoted wholeheartedly to artistic creation. He said that his task in the future will be painting. We are fortunate to study art. Art is our enlightenment. We all perceive the beauty of life through painting, singing, and dancing. In the end, I believe only art can redeem us. If we embrace art, I believe we can live longer and happier lives. Thank you all!

(Transcript based on the recorded speech)

A Painter Like Courbet

Liu Weidong

Former President and Professor of Art History, Nanjing University of the Arts

Mr. Zhang Shaoxia and I are fellow disciples as we were both Professor Liu Ruli’s graduate students. Before that, Mr. Zhang was involved in art education and studied painting in college. He then focused on the history of Western art when he pursued his graduate studies at NUA. I believe Mr. Zhang's paintings have two sources of inspiration. The first one is the knowledge he gained by studying art history. Mr. Zhang was already an outstanding art historian during his studies at NUA. He authored many works and possessed a deep understanding of Western art history. After seeing his works, I noticed that although they’re called golf course landscapes, they exude a rural French painting style. Golf is an imported concept, so the works he presents today align perfectly with his expertise. Secondly, like Courbet, he only paints what he sees. He has played on all the golf courses he paints, and aside from golf, he feels deeply attached to the surrounding environment. Thus, he is determined to capture it with his brush. Some places may prohibit photography or drawing, but he still memorizes them visually and sometimes secretly sketches them out. With his knowledge of art history and personal experiences, he paints these beautiful scenes he saw in a vivid and lifelike way. Though we haven't been there, I feel deeply immersed in his works, which are pleasing to the eye. Therefore, Mr. Zhang’s return to art creation as a senior-generation NUA teacher is largely related to his pursuit of art deep within his heart. Although he is in the business world, his innermost dreams are still about art, so ultimately, he returns to this field. I believe it's timely for him to hold his first exhibition at NUA, and I wish him every success with his exhibition.

Added nearby bunkers (Olympic Golf Club) 120×65cm Oil on Canvas 2023

Mr. Zhang's paintings mainly depict landscapes, with a strong reference to golf courses. His artistic language is influenced by the Nineteenth-Century French Realism, integrated with some impressionist painting techniques. His color palette is vibrant, with a strong sense of light. Upon first glance, I felt that he had the language and style of oil painting. As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Zhang is an excellent oil painter. He is sensitive and bold in mastering the language of oil painting. Some of the color applications may not be found in textbooks, but he still expresses them based on his understanding and subjective feelings, which I think is commendable.

(Transcript from interview recordings)