Edutainment > Su Yansheng - born 1961

Chinese Prints - Home
Mr. Su Yansheng
copyright Su Yansheng

There is a German saying "Kunst kommt von Können" which can be translated as "Art comes from artisanship". The English term "art" comes from the Latin word "ars" which means "skill" or "craft". Mr. Su Yansheng definitely has skill and craft and plenty of them. But there is more behind his reduction woodblocks, etchings and silkscreens than just a superb technical capability. His prints have a charisma that cannot be explained with words - and not with perfect artisanship nor with creativity.

The images on this page are link-sensitive and take you to other articles or web sites in which you might be interested.

Master Degree from CAFA

Chinese Prints - Info
Learning Chinese Gongfu, 1997
copyright Su Yansheng

Mr. Su Yansheng was born in 1961 in Ningxia municipality in the North-West of China. In 1986, he finished his printmaking studies at Xi'an Fine Art Academy, printmaking department. In 2000, he continued the art studies at CAFA (Chinese Academy of Fine Arts), and received his master degree at this famous Chinese printmaking academy.

Currently he works as professor at Fine Art Institute of Ningxia University and director of the painting department.

Associations

The artist is member of China Artists Association and director of China Printmakers Association.

First Impression

Mr. Su Yansheng masters a large variety of techniques - woodblocks, etchings, silkscreens and there may be a few more that we do not know of. The first consignment of paper works that we received consisted mostly of reduction woodblock prints. And there was one etching in black and white and one silkscreen. The reduction woodblock prints were kept in few colors which is typical for the austere nature of a reduction woodblock print. The artist demonstrates that less can be more.

The edition sizes are small and start as low as only 5. Print sizes are from medium to very large. The artist prints on a rather thick, Chinese paper. All prints are limited editions signed, titled, dated and numbered in pencil on the lower margin as usual.

Exhibitions

Chinese Prints - Article
Memories of Rainy Season, 1997
copyright Su Yansheng

• 1989 - The print "Garden" was selected for the 7th National Art Exhibition, Kunming city, China.
• 1990 - The print "Visional Tibet" was selected for the 10th National Print Exhibition, Hangzhou, China.
• 1991 - The print "Voile Handkerchief with Designs" was selected for the 3th National Printmaking Exhibition of Etching, Lithography and Silkscreen, Nanjing, China.
• 1992 - The print "Meditate on the Past" was selected for the 11th National Print Exhibition, Yingchuan, China.
• 1994 - The prints "Historic Site No.1" and "Historic Site No.2" were selected for the 8th National Art Exhibition, Beijing city, China.
• 1995 - The print "Historic Site No.2" was selected for the 18th Kanagawa International Printmaking Exhibition, Japan.
• 1996 - The print "Visional Tibet No.3" was selected for the 7th International Printmaking Exhibition, Taiwan.
• 1996 - The print "Hometown at the Foot of the Great Wall" was selected for the 13th National Print Exhibition, Nanjing, China.
• 1997 - The print "Historic Site No.2" was selected for the 6th National Printmaking Exhibition of Etching, Lithography and Silkscreen, Shengyang city, China.
• 1998 - The print "Memories of Rainy Season" was selected for the Chinese Contemporary Printmaking Exhibition, Tianjing city, China.
• 1998 - The print "Memories of Rainy Season" was selected for the 14th National Print Exhibition, Chengdu, China.
• 1998 - The print "Hometown at the Foot of the Great Wall" was selected for the 8th International Printmaking Exhibition, Taiwan.
• 1998 - The print "Learning Chinese Gongfu" won the golden prize of Ningxia 1998 Art Exhibition.
• 1999 - The print "Sunshine" was selected for the 9th National Art Exhibition, Huhhot city, China.
• 1999 - Su Yansheng was honored as Chinese outstanding printmaker of 1980-1990 and won the Luxun Print prize.
• 1999 - The print "Learning Chinese Gongfu" won the golden prize of the 2nd Art Work Exhibition of Chinese Universities and Colleges.
• 2000 - The print "Sky Domain" was selected for the 15th National Print Exhibition, Guangzhou, China and won the copper prize.
• 2000 - The print "Festival of Labuleng Temple, Tibet" was selected for the Chinese Printmaking Exhibition of 100 years, Chongqing, China.
• 2000 - The print "Festival of Labuleng Temple, Tibet" won the silver prize of the 3rd Art Exhibition among 5 municipalities.
• 2000 - The print "Sky Domain" was selected for the International Biennial Printmaking Exhibition, Qingdao, China.
• 2001 - The print "Hand Trace" was selected for the 7th National Printmaking Exhibition of Etching, Lithography and Silkscreen, Wuhan city, China and won the copper prize.
• 2001 - The print "No Limits" was selected for the Japan-China Printmaking Exhibition, Japan.
• 2001 - The artist was honored as outstanding artist of Ningxia Municipality.
• 2002 - The print "Landscape No.2" was selected for the 16th National Print Exhibition, Hefei, China.
• 2002 - The print "Landscape" was selected for the Japan-China Printmaking Exhibition, Xi'an, China.
• 2003 - The print "Landscape" was selected for the 8th National Printmaking Exhibition of Etching, Lithography and Silkscreen, Chongqing city, China.
• 2003 - The print "Oasis" was selected for the 2nd National Golden Color Art Exhibition, Beijing, China.
• 2003 - The prints "Sky Domain" and "No Limits" were shown at the Chinese Art Exhibition Today, Beijing, China.
• 2003 - The print "No Limits" attended the Chinese Contemporary Printmaking and Painting Exhibition, which was shown as a road show in countries of Africa including South Africa.
• 2004 - The print "Orient Spirit" attended the 10th National Art Exhibition, Chengdu city, China.
• 2005 - The print "Orient Spirit" won the golden prize of the 7th Ningxia Art and Culture Exhibition, China.
• 2006 - The prints "Predict" and "Embattle" attended the 2nd Chinese Nominated Young Printmakers Exhibition, Shenzhen, China.

Publications

Chinese Woodblock Prints
Landscape with Tree, 2002
copyright Su Yansheng

• Print volume of the Collection of Chinese Modern Prints.
• Chinese Art Today.
• Contemporary Print of Chinese Universities and Colleges.
• Modern Chinese Fine Arts 1979-1999.
• Collection of Works by Chinese Celebrated Printmakers.
• Collection of Fine Arts Works of Chinese Universities and Colleges.
• "Su Yansheng Graphic Art", by Huawen publishing house, ISBN: 7-5075-1484-6.

Collections

China Prints - Article
Mr. Su Yansheng
copyright Su Yansheng

• China Art Gallery, Beijing, China.
• Art Museum of Guangdong province.
• Art Museum of Jiangsu province.
• Art Museum of Qingdao city.
• Shenzhou Print Museum, Sichuan province.
• Printmaking department of CAFA (China Academy of Fine Arts), Beijing, China.
• Art gallery of Hubei Fine Art Institute.

Dieter Wanczura
(November 2006, updated August 2009)

	Web www.artelino.com

The images on this web site are the property of the artist(s) and or the artelino GmbH and/or a third company/institution.  Reproduction, public display and any commercial use of these images, in whole or in part, require the expressed written consent of the artist(s) and/or the artelino GmbH. .