Wu Ping (Taiwanese artist)

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Wu Ping (吳平, 1920–2019), with the courtesy name Kanbai (堪白), was born in Yuyao, Zhejiang. He was a Taiwanese calligrapher, painter, seal engraver, and scholar of ink painting and calligraphy. In 1983, he served as the Director of the Painting and Calligraphy Department at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. After retiring from the National Palace Museum in 1991, he devoted himself to the creation, teaching, and study of painting, calligraphy, and seal engraving. Wu Ping passed away in Taipei in 2019.

Origin of Family Education and Interests[edit]

From a young age, Wu Ping followed his father, Wu Kegang (吳克剛), in studying calligraphy and also learned from the book "Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字), " an ancient Chinese dictionary from the Eastern Han dynasty. In addition to learning the basics of landscape painting from his father, he also focused on painting flowers and birds. During his secondary school years, he independently studied the painting style of Gong Xian (龔賢)'s "Gong Banqian's Class Sketch (龔半千課徒畫稿)". Under his father's guidance, Wu Ping learned seal engraving from the Zhe School and the Eight Masters of Xiling (浙派西泠八家). At the age of 17 (1936), he even had his seal engraving works displayed at the Rong Bao Zhai (榮寶齋) Wuhan branch and provided paid services for seal engraving, demonstrating his young talent and courage.^[1][2]

Early Artistic Pursuits[edit]

During the period of the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), Wu Ping continued his practice in seal engraving, calligraphy, and painting while working at the Pinghan Railway Bureau. In 1945, he briefly studied painting through correspondence with Mr. Hu Peiheng (胡佩衡) for three months, but had to interrupt his studies due to high tuition fees. Additionally, during a visit to Shanghai, he was deeply fascinated by the seal impressions in Deng Sanmu (鄧散木)'s seal album. After the war, with the help of his uncle, Hu Weiquan (胡維詮), he had the chance to meet Shi Shufan (施叔範), who introduced Wu to Deng Sanmu. Since then, Wu studied seal engraving with Deng Sanmu through correspondence and seal impressions.^[3][2] Wu Ping developed his own artistic style, characterized by precise knife techniques, adept spatial arrangement, and became recognized for his unique artistic flair.^[3]

Social Connections and Artistic Style[edit]

In 1949, Wu Ping relocated to Chongqing, Guangzhou, and later Hong Kong with the government. During his stay in Hong Kong, he had interactions with the Buddhist monk painter Ruopiao (若瓢, 1902–1976) and the artist Tang Yun (唐雲, 1910–1993).^[2] After arriving in Taiwan in 1950, he worked for the Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice. During his leisure time, he continued to pursue his interests in calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving, engaging in artistic exchanges and discussions with groups such as the "Qixiu Painting Society (七修畫會)," "Hai Jiao Seal Collection (海嶠印集)" and the "Six Six Painting Society (六六畫會)." While excelling in calligraphy and seal engraving, his focus in painting shifted towards floral themes. In addition to emphasizing the style of the Shanghia painting school (海上畫派), in 1952, he studied flower painting with Mr. Gao Yihong (高逸鴻, 1908–1982), subsequently making flowers his main subject matter. In his later years, he was influenced by the blue-and-white peony works of Hua Yan (華喦), which led to the distinctive incorporation of indigo blue into his paintings, creating a unique artistic style.^[3][2]

Achievements[edit]

In 1953, Wu Ping was recommended by Ji Yuanpu (季源溥, 1906–1979), the first director of the Investigation Bureau, to hold his first solo exhibition at Zhongshan Hall.^[4] In 1969, he received the Golden Medal Award from the Chinese Painting Society (中國畫學會), and in 1978, he was honored with the Zhongshan Literary and Art Award in the seal engraving category. In 1988, he held his second solo exhibition at the National Museum of History, which marked the beginning of numerous subsequent solo exhibitions and the publication of albums showcasing his works. In 2013, at the age of 94, Wu Ping held his final major solo exhibition at the The General Association of Chinese Culture (中華文化總會). In 1983, he was invited by Director Qin Xiaoyi (秦孝儀) to serve as the Director of the Painting and Calligraphy Department at the National Palace Museum. After retiring from the National Palace Museum in 1991, he dedicated himself to the creation and teaching of painting, calligraphy, and seal engraving. In 2004, the National Museum of History published a book titled "Wu Ping: Free from Resistance (吳平—涵詠自在口述歷史)^[5]" in his honor, and in 2005, the book "he Calligraphy, Painting, and Seal Engraving of Wu Ping (吳平堪白書畫篆刻輯)" was published.^[6]

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