Art Talk with Zhaoming Wu
Join us as world renowned artist and instructor, Zhaoming Wu, gives a lecture on the concept, design, and technique involved in his work and art practice.
Wu focuses on figurative work, using live models, mainly women draped in cloth, although his repertoire includes landscapes and portraits. The curves of the body and folds in cloth remind Wu of nature, such as mountains, water, and sunrise and sunset. Wu’s style is impressionistic and moody. It has evolved from initially painting “quickly and spontaneously” with exaggerated values and colors to growing more logical and conscious, according to Wu. Art of the West magazine described his work as “nothing if not Western in style and theme,” despite Wu’s training in China. This is also reflected in his choice of models.
Wu is known best for his figurative paintings. Inspired heavily by 19th century French painting, Wu describes his work as “representational, but not traditional classical.” This can be seen, as Wu uses modern elements of graphic design in his work.
Wu’s design principles derive from traditional Chinese painting. Wu begins composing a new image by determining what he calls points, masses, and lines. A line refers to any prominent edge, shape, or series of shapes that sweeps through the painting. A point refers to any small shape, and a mass refers is any large shape or cluster of small shapes that can be grouped together to become one large shape. While a painting can be built on two or even just one of these three elements, Wu prefers to build his compositions on a mixture of all three. “I use points, masses, and lines the way a composer uses notes to write a song,” Wu explains.
Space is limited, so register today!
Free event, with light food, coffee, and good company. Hosted at Workshop SLC.