Don't mistake this artist for late Chinese master Zhang Daqian
(also known as Chang Dai-chien) (1899-1983).
Zhang was famous for his revolutionary style of "splash-ink landscape" which blends elements of traditional literati painting and Western abstract art. The paintings and calligraphy under the brushes of You Sanhui have much in common with the master.
They do have some connections.
You, 55, now living in Taiwan, studied Chinese painting under two of Zhang's students and is proud of being a follower of Zhang's art.
The artist is currently staging a solo exhibition at the newly-established China National Museum, which was established following a merger of the National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of Chinese Revolution.
You's week-long exhibition will begin at the museum on Thursday, according to Huang Chen from the National Museum.
The exhibition comes a year after Zhang's grand retrospective at the National Museum of Chinese History, which caused a storm among Beijing art fans in early 2002.
The exhibition, which marked the debut of You's works on the Chinese mainland, includes splash-ink landscape paintings and calligraphic works in cursive scripts.
You has also been strongly influenced by Yu Youren (1878-1964), a master of Chinese calligraphy in the 20th century, said He Haotian, former director of the Taipei-based National Museum of Chinese History.
Both masters spent the last years of their lives in Taiwan, where You was born.
After its Beijing debut, the exhibition will travel to the Shaanxi Museum of History in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, and the Anhui Provincial Museum in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province.
(China Daily April 1, 2003)
