Thus, Guo's genre also places particular value and significance in the process of change. Throughout his work, Guo consistently showcases progressive techniques and establishes his skill by intertwining inspirations from treasured ancient art with modern-day subject matter. These pieces integrate classical art's essence with a flair that is distinctly his own. It is apparent that the charm and cultural value of Guo's works are thus fruits of his unending appreciation for timeless beauty.

The Peony Blossom

In Guo's art, one cannot help but see the shadows of famous art masters: Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Li Kuchan (1899-1983), Wu Changshuo (1844-1927), and Chen Banding (1876-1970) have all influenced his canon. He restructures these traditional elements with skill, using the wisdom and experience of artists past to bring details in his own work to life.

A deep understanding of Chinese philosophy, too, lies behind each brush stroke in his pieces. For example, Guo has mastered the principles and true meaning behind "traditional fine art," which relies heavily on balance and harmony. In his childhood, Guo would practice writing characters from classical books and gradually understood the ancient philosophies contained in these tomes. Guo inherited a way of thinking that had been passed down for thousands of years by the greatest Chinese minds.

It is widely accepted that Chinese classics are the key to carrying on the intangible aspects of the culture. An enlightened way to look at and think about the world is contained in such paintings. Guo has long understood the precious value inherent in these works, and regardless of their popularity, continues to express the unique Chinese perspective on nature and humanity through his art.

Each of Guo's paintings is a representation of both the present and the past. Fresh reflections on present-day life mesh with practiced and stylized symbols of beauty. As he noted, preserving the memories of history is a precondition for cultural development—and as tradition is well-respected, preserved and apparent in Guo's art, his paintings therefore contain profound philosophical meaning and reflection.

The brush and ink represent the core spirit of the Chinese people, formed over a long period of historical and artistic evolution. Guo is thus very particular with the way he uses these tools. To him, they possess unique intellectual and spiritual inspiration.

Guo learned not only from Beijing painters, though, but from the bird-and-flower painting masters of 1,000 years ago. Though he reimagines the same ordinary objects as his predecessors, like plum blossoms, orchids, and bamboo stems, his unique aesthetic taste imbues his works with a new vibrancy and meaning. Once, at the age of 50, Guo noted that the field of bird-and-flower painting does not lack masters, so it is difficult to make a breakthrough in this field.

Guo's career as an artist and traditional ink painter has spanned the decades, showcasing the sensibility, beauty, and imagination behind Chinese art. It will continue to progress only through continued innovations like Guo's, applying new concepts to traditional art forms and helping them to blossom.

Email us at: liuyunyun@bjreview.com

About Guo Shifu

Guo Shifu was born in 1945 in Beijing. A member of the China Artists Association and an art commissioner with the Beijing Fine Art Academy, Guo is also the founder of Beijing's first painters' association, which has since been renamed the Beijing Society for Bird-and-Flower Paintings. Guo is proficient in traditional painting, calligraphy, seal cutting, poetry and Western artistic techniques. The Ministry of Culture has listed Guo as one of the masters of contemporary Chinese art.