Zhang Ding, renowned Chinese artist, educator, professor of Tsinghua University and president of the former Central Academy of Art and Design, passed away on Feb.21, 2010 at the age of 94. In order to commemorate the master, the National Art Museum of China holds this exhibition entitled His spirit will live forever at Hall 5 until March 31, 2009.
The artist was greatly accomplished in various categories, such as comics, designs, Chinese New Year pictures, decorations, murals, cartoons, pure inks and calligraphy. He had made remarkable achievement in each key period during his 80-year-long artistic journey. He once took charge of the design work of the founding ceremony of New China and the Great Hall of the People, designed to construct Huairen Hall and Qinzheng Palace, and was responsible for the layout of Tiananmen Square and New China s first set of commemorative stamps. He promoted the revitalization of China s mural by painting a mural for the Beijing Capital International Airport. In later life, he developed the pure-ink technique that existed since ancient times into a complete set of independent artistic language.
Five years ago, the National Art Museum of China held an exhibition of his artistic achievements and he donated a total of 133 works to the museum then. The National Art Museum of China selected some masterpieces of different periods out of his donation.
