Master of erotic hyperrealism Guan Zezui: the path from a disgraced painter to the heights of glory
Artist Guan Zezui has lived in the United States for more than three decades. But at the same time, he is very popular in his homeland, and his exhibitions are a great success. The painter also has many fans online, but is known under the name Guan Zeju - in the European way. The master works in the style of hyperrealism, creating wonderful female portraits. (Warning! Nudity).
Today Guan Zezui is known as the author of paintings that glorify the beauty of the female body, including the naked one. But it was not always so. The artist began his creative journey very early, at the age of 11. He is often called a child prodigy, because already in childhood Guan painted very technical and effective canvases.
Of course, while living in socialist China, Zezui painted special paintings. His works were dedicated to the labor and scientific achievements of the Chinese people, as well as party leaders. While still a student at the Guangzhou Academy of Painting, he became famous for his monumental painting “Mao Zedong in the Jingang Mountains.” Now this painting, commissioned by the Chinese Communist Party, is exhibited in the Nanchang Museum.
Having graduated from the university with honors, no one needed the talented artist. At this time, the Cultural Revolution was raging in China, and people of art were treated with suspicion. Despite his services to the party, Zezui fell into disgrace. To avoid being sent to a labor camp, he and his wife, a famous ballerina, moved to Hainan Island.
Now it is a heavenly resort place, but in those days Hainan was a backwater. There the artist continued to work, and his wife danced with the same “unreliable” ballerinas. During this period, Guan Zezui created his best paintings dedicated to ballet.
In the early 80s, attitudes towards creative people in China became more accepting. Guan Zezui even took part in the Sixth National Art Exhibition in Beijing. His paintings “Huaqiao Girl Picking Cocoa Fruit” and “Cocoa Garden” took prizes. In 1985, the paintings “Composer” and “Violinist in Black” were selected for participation in the National Exhibition of Oil Painting. Then they went to Germany, to the exhibition of the Dodmont Art Exchange. There, the artist’s works took first place.
From that moment on, Zezui began to be invited to exhibitions around the world. His paintings were admired in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Sacramento, San Francisco, Berlin and Paris. In China, the master received a position as a senior artist at the Guangzhou Academy of Painting, and then became a member of the Chinese Association of Artists.
Then his career progressed. Zezui was elected director of the Guangdong Branch of the Chinese Artists Association and deputy secretary general of the Guangdong Oil Painting Research Association. In 1989, the eminent artist went to lecture at the University of California at Sacramento. The master was offered to stay in the USA and he agreed.
Despite the decision to settle overseas, the artist is not considered a traitor in China. Guan Zezui often visits his homeland to give lectures and exhibitions. He says that he is unable to tear himself away from his homeland, since only it gives him true inspiration.