WU GUANZHEN

Wu Guanzhen (*1984, Nanping, Fujian, China) is a professional artist who currently lives and works in Xiamen. He has a strong background in the art of lacquer, but, in 2010, he expressed the intention to revitalise this traditional Chinese art in an innovative way. After seven years of deep experimentation, he developed a unique and personal artistic approach, gaining recognition in 2017 with his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong.

The artist considers the lacquer a material intrinsically connected to nature. The environment and culture of his childhood have played a crucial role in shaping his identity and distinctive artistic style. Wood dust, ramie, and lacquer were common materials, an important part of his daily youth. Living in the countryside, surrounded by nature, his works obviously reflect this connection with the natural environment. The visitor is catapulted into the artist’s past, contemplating his works depicting landscapes and common elements that he observed as a child, such as trees, rocks, and blades of grass.

Wu sees lacquer as a transparent and lightweight medium, an aspect he believes is often lost when applied to wooden panels. Therefore, he is committed to using lacquer on delicate, transparent ramie threads, creating translucent surfaces that dynamically and harmoniously interact with light, captivating the viewer in wonderful visual experiences. This further emphasises the importance of lacquer as a natural gift and expresses conceptual artistic thoughts through a traditional Chinese medium.

Wu Guanzhen transforms ancient craftsmanship techniques into a contemporary artistic language, demonstrating that tradition can be revitalised through innovation.