Desert Sand

Gu Yuan, born in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, print maker, watercolour artist and art educationist. In 1938 he went to Yanan and studied in Shanbei Public School, then in Lu Xun College of Arts. In 1942 he participated in the National Woodcut Exhibition in Chongqing and was highly praised by Xu Beihong. In 1951 he won the second prize of New Spring Festival Pictures awarded by the Central Ministry of Culture for the work named Chairman Mao Talking with Farmers. In 1987 he accepted the order of the crown granted by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. He took part in the creation of historical paintings for the Revolutionary Museum. He served successively as professor and president of China Central Academy of Fine Arts, the vice chairman of Chinese Artists Association and chairman of China Printmakers Association.