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Details
- Other Title
- The master
- Alternative title
- 主人 [Zhuren]
- Place where the work was made
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China
- Period
- People's Republic 1949 - → China
- Date
- 1978
- Media category
- Materials used
- woodcut
- Edition
- 4/50
- Dimensions
- 58.0 x 58.0 cm image; 68.9 x 71.0 cm sheet
- Signature & date
Signed and dated l.r., in Chinese, pencil "Xu Kuang A ge 1978nian".
- Credit
- Purchased 1993
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 522.1993
- Copyright
- © the artists
- Artist information
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Xu Kuang
Works in the collection
- Artist information
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A Ge
Works in the collection
- Share
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About
After turbulent years of social, political and economic turmoil, Chinese graphic art again enjoyed a vigorous revival in the late 1970s. As a potent example of this first harvest, 'Master' harks back to the spirited realism of the woodcut movement of the 1930s and 1940s, but embraces photographic naturalism in its close observation of a real person, wrinkled by the sun and dirty from tilling the soil. It encapsulates the idea that following liberation the people were masters of their own country. After graduating from the middle school attached to the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Xu Kuang concentrated on the woodcut at Chongqing in Sichuan. In collaboration with A Ge, a graduate of the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, he created some outstanding graphic works, including 'Master', which was awarded the gold medal at the Fifth Chinese National Art Exhibition in 1979. It also won an honorary award at the Fifth International Graphic Arts Competition held in Norway.
Art Gallery Handbook, 1999. pg.264., After turbulent years of social, political and economic turmoil, Chinese graphic art again enjoyed a vigorous revival in the late 1970s. As a potent example of this first harvest, 'Master' harks back to the spirited realism of the woodcut movement of the 1930s and 1940s, but embraces photographic naturalism in its close observation of a real person, wrinkled by the sun and dirty from tilling the soil. It encapsulates the idea that following liberation the people were masters of their own country. After graduating from the middle school attached to the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Xu Kuang concentrated on the woodcut at Chongqing in Sichuan. In collaboration with A Ge, a graduate of the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, he created some outstanding graphic works, including 'Master', which was awarded the gold medal at the Fifth Chinese National Art Exhibition in 1979. It also won an honorary award at the Fifth International Graphic Arts Competition held in Norway. Art Gallery Handbook, 1999. pg.264.
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Places
Where the work was made
China
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Exhibition history
Shown in 2 exhibitions
The People's Progress 20th Century Chinese Woodcuts, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 26 Oct 1996–15 Dec 1996
Modern Chinese prints: from WE to ME, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 21 Oct 2006–28 Jan 2007
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Bibliography
Referenced in 2 publications
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Bruce James, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Asian Collection: East Asia', pg. 246-287, Sydney, 1999, 264 (illus.).
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Jackie Menzies, The People's Progress 20th Century Chinese Woodcuts, Sydney, 1996, 14, 17 (illus.).
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Provenance
Xu Kuang, 1978-Apr 1993, China, purchased from the artist through Ruth Burgess by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Aug 1993.