Wang Weide - born 1944

Mr. Wang Weide is a printmaker from the Autonomous Region Ningxia Hui in northwest China. It is one of the five autonomous regions with a strong ethnic minority. Wang Weide represents 4 decades of printmaking during a time period that is characterized by great political transitions. The works of the artist are like a mirror of the different times - from the turmoils of the Cultural Revolution under Mao Zedong to a liberal art market. But no matter which subjects and style the artist applied, his works represent the top floor of artistic quality and craftmanship in modern Chinese printmaking.

Born in Ningxia Province

Mr.Wang Weide was born in 1944 in Guyuan city of Ningxia province. He had studied fine art at the Shanghai College of Fine Arts. Now he is a director of Ningxia Artists' Association, president of Guyuan City Artists Association and visiting professor of Ningxia normal University.

Mr. Wang has specialized in woodblock prints and oil-paintings showing the landscapes of the West of China. He has shown his works in domestic exhibitions in China and abroad in countries like Japan, the United Kingdom and Poland.

Four Decades of Printmaking

Travel on Snow Mountains, 2001
copyright Wang Weide

artelino's art agent in China had a chance to meet Mr. Wang Weide and see his art works in Shanghai at the occasion of an exhibition in Shanghai City. This small province is in northwest China at the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It is bordered by Gansu to the south, Shanxi to the east, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north.

Although their works have nothing in common, we are reminded of the Japanese printmaker Yoshitoshi Taiso. Yoshitoshi lived during the period of Japan's transition from a secluded, "forbidden" country into a modern and powerful state modeled after Western patterns. This phase of transition from the Edo to Meiji period was accompanied by great turmoils and economic hardships.

Mr. Wang Weide grew up during Communist rule and the cold war. When he had finished his academic training, the chaos and turmoil of the Cultural Revolution began in China under chairman Mao Zedong. The art style of that period was dominated by social-realism and communist propaganda. Best known to the Western audience are the Chinese propaganda posters - today a field for collectors worldwide with rather high prices.

Mr. Wang Weide created woodblock prints during this period. We happened to receive the last copy of a typical subject Harvest - see below. Apart from Harvest we received six more prints by the artist. Each represents a decade of printmaking.

Exhibitions, Prizes and Awards

Rhythm of Wheat Field, 1993
copyright Wang Weide

1984 - "Plateau Wheat Field" was published in the newspaper "People's Daily" (May 1984).
1985 - "Plateau Wheat Field" won the copper prize of Ningxia Art Exhibition.
1986 - "Herding on Plateau" was shown in the 9th National Print Exhibition of China.
1989 - "Wind" won the outstanding prize of Ningxia Employees' Artworks Exhibition.
1994 - "Rhythm of Wheat Field" won the copper prize of Ningxia Art Exhibition.
1998 - "Life" won the silver prize of Ningxia Art Exhibition.
1999 - "Silent Mountains" won the silver prize of Ningxia Art Exhibtion.
2001 - The prints "Harvest of Loess Plateau", "Herding on Plateau" and "Rhythm of Wheat Field" were exhibited in London, U.K., by Orient Art Center of Hong Kong.
2006 - The prints "Harvest of Loess Plateau", "Herding on Plateau", "Rhythm of Wheat Field" and "Silent Mountains" were exhibited in Japan by Ningxia Tourist Office.

Publications

"Wang Weide's Artworks", published by Great Wall Publish House, ISBN 7-80017-654-1.

Gallery of Selected Artworks

Harvest

Woodblock Print from 1975
copyright Wang Weide

We have been lucky to get Mr. Wang's last copy of Harvest, created in 1975. It is a special print that records a special period in China's history: the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

Exploit

Woodblock Print from 1984
copyright Wang Weide

Only few copies are left of this woodblock print from 1984. It shows road construction works under a rainbow. The road and the rainbow expand into the deep mountains. Road construction and electricity brought hope for a better life to Chinese people in rural areas. The Chinese people have a saying:

"If you want to be rich, the first thing is to build a road."

Go to Market

Woodblock Print from 1988
copyright Wang Weide

This print was made in 1988 and shows a scene from Yunnan province. Dai minority girls go to market by bicycle.

Spring Festival

Woodblock Print from 2002
copyright Wang Weide

This woodblock shows the typical activities for celebrating the Spring Festival in Ningxia province. The motif can often be seen on folk art images. Young couples come back to see their parents' home during the Spring Festival. There are dances and festivities everywhere. Farmers prepare the fields and hope for a good harvest.

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