Prof. Anita Yan Wong, M.F.A.
Asian American Artist, Educator and Founder
pseudonym: 大白菜
Artist Name changes from 小白菜 to 大白菜 and one day to 老白菜
Archived by:
AAA.org (Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong China)
AAAC (Asian American Arts Center, New York City U.S.A.)
Widewalls.ch (World leading Contemporary and Urban Arts database)
Faculty:
UC Berkely Extension, SF (current)
School of Visual Arts, NYC
Maryland Institute College of Arts
Tyler School of Arts, Temple University
The Art Institute
Founder of:
Guo Hua Modernist Movement 國畫型人
Silicon Valley Art and Technology Meetup
Asia Team Behance (Adobe)
Member of:
Asian American Women Artists Association
A Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco Program
Hong Kong International Art Society
Hong Kong International Photography Society
California Artists
Artist Bio
Anita Yan Wong, M.F.A., M.A., is an American Chinese Impressionist painter best known for her distinct dynamic brush works and unique style of "Contemporary Traditional" paintings that defies tradition and modernity. The artist, now living in California, United States, is a 4th generation Lingnan painter leading the "Contemporary Lingnan Movement" (新)嶺南畫派 – a breakthrough from the traditional Lingnan school of painting (which originated in southern China in the late 19th century, known for the fusion of modern Chinese and Western painting approaches.). Her "Contemporary Traditional" paintings breakthrough from the more traditional 2nd and 3rd generation Lingnan painters such as Chao's and his followers from South Asia. As a 4th generation (21st century) Lingnan artist whom has grew up in the digital age and studied art in both east and west; her body of work truly reflects the current time but at the same time first slogan from the Lingnan founding fathers – “Balancing Chinese and foreign, blending ancient and modern (折衷中外、融會古今)” – they allow the now considered "Traditional" medium to once again questions the minds of the Millennial and generation Z. What are the roles and meanings of Traditional Arts to the viewers living in the contemporary art world?
Wong's innovative New Lingnan arts are currently featured Internationally in both Traditional and Hip Cultural blogs and magazines – they reflects current time and speaks to the modern minds in the information age, Wong's efforts in education and innovation as a 4th generation Lingnan painter is also recognized and researched by Academics; Art historians and Phd students Internationally, such as University of Naples "L'Orientale, Italy and the Phd Department of history of art and archaeology, University of London. She has collaborated with MAHB, Stanford University with the goal of preserving Lingnan Guo Hua and the beauties in nature. Yale University's China Hands Magazine described her paintings as “Traditional art form that questions the modern minds.”
Wong is a long time pupil of Hsin Pengjiu, a World-renowned Lingnan style master and one of the first female student of Chao Shao An and Pu Hsin-Yu (Aisin-Gioro Puru), cousin of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. Her works are currently featured Internationally in both traditional and Hip Cultural magazines including N.Y. Arts, cover story of Works & Conversations 2017 (displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, SFMOMA, the Kandinsky Library at the Pompidou Center, Paris and Harvard library), Art Dependence Magazine; selected illustration arts for Emmy award winning Magazine by Adam McKay and Mike Farah. She was awarded first place wall art by “Design within Reach” in Design Philadelphia Award. Wong has taught at the School of Visual Arts, Temple University , the Maryland Institute College of Art and is currently teaching Contemporary Chinese painting at UC Berkeley Extension fine art department in San Francisco, California.
The artist received her first western art education – B.A. (Honors) in Graphic Design from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London after graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University Art and Design department; her M.F.A. and M.A. in Digital Photography and Digital Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art. Wong served as a electronic media and cultural professor for over thirteen years before returning to a sole focus on her art in 2015. During this time, she was awarded Excellence Scholars from Maryland Institute College of Art and “Teaching excellence honor” from the Art Institute. Throughout the years the artist took part in an array of non profit artistic projects around the world including Baltimore international rhythm festival, Academy of Natural History Museum insects show and Action AIDS. With her cross platforms interest like film and electronic media – she has also served as a guest speaker for many events, including film and television director Bob Giraldi (best known for the creator of Michael Jackson music video).
Nature is the main inspiration for the artist who equally admires works by Abstract Expressionist brush painters such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning; the Impressionists such as Claude Monet and the beautiful and expressive brush works found in Asian rice paper paintings. With her background in creating moving imagery, Anita explores the movements of subjects and passage of time with her fast moving brush, which is why animals and natural elements represent recurrent topics in her work. Seemingly alive– tigers and birds in full flight experience a certain level of abstraction but still retain their natural appeal. Perception is also recurrent topic in her paintings as the artist tries to explore various ways individuals perceive her imagery. Inspired by Duchamp, Wong believes her Contemporary Traditional paintings is not intended to please the eye, Instead it could be used as a tool to serve the mind. The artist have started the Contemporary Traditional art movement with her pupils @ UC Berkeley extension – Guo Hua Modernist Movement 國畫型人 with the goal of inspiring more to practice Contemporary Traditional Arts in the digital age.
Current Lingnan School of Painting
“Balancing Chinese and foreign, blending ancient and modern (折衷中外、融會古今)” – the revolutionary slogan by three founders of Lingnan School of painting. Gao Jianfu (高劍父, 1879–1951), Gao Qifeng (高奇峰, 1889–1933), and Chen Shuren (陳樹人, 1884–1948)
"My life is different than the last generation of Lingnan painters – the world is becoming smaller and I like to think that the slogan by the founding fathers is no longer just a statement to inspire – I am living my life differently than the 2nd and 3 generation of Lingnan painters. Growing up in Beijing, Hong Kong, London and the U.S.; having the opportunity to experience higher art educations in both west and east made me question if Lingnan art is behind the current state of Arts in the informational age. I was lost as the new generation don't really practice traditional arts as I did every day since I were 5 year old) and the older generation of Lingnan painters did not experience the World the same way as the Millennials whom is living in the digital age. During the moments of solitude, I often look up to the founding fathers for their revolutionary innovation in art during their time and wonder why Lingnan no longer match the current image of what is Contemporary in Arts. I would like to think that my life is well spend if I could change this image and inspire the young again by truly carrying out the essence of Lingnan –Balancing Chinese and foreign, blending ancient and modern. Not to be afraid of being judged and push Lingnan art into another level that reflects my time and inspire the viewers again with this beautiful art form." – Anita's reflections, 2019
Artist Statement
My current works have been dealing with dynamic movements in nature; individualism in the viewer’s eyes and the role of Contemporary Traditional art form and brush works (in particular pushing the boundaries of Traditional Lingnan Style Chinese Painting to the next level) in the Millennium. My current "AR brushed ink" (Augmented Reality ink) 互動水墨 painting series explores black ink in both 2D and 3D space. I see "Bi" as my handwritings, an expression highly individual. Freehand brushworks I create identify me from any other human beings– they serves as a medium for me to convey my emotions and meanings of the subject. The unique style is created by isolating/amplifying a single Lingnan brush technique – 雙 鉤 (freehand outlining) from the usually colored Lingnan style.
Older works like "Rorschach", 2016 for example, offers the viewer a Rorschach test, which invites them to question openly on what the individual sees of traditional art in the digital age. This invitation lets the viewer see art with not just the eyes but also the mind. It allows an old ancient art form to question the modern minds. My 2016 painting series “Preserve” uses pins to preserve real insects and objects found in nature reflects my ultimate goal: Preserving the beauty from nature and the ancient art form of Lingnan Guo hua (The National Art of China during 19th century). Both Traditional and Hip Cultural; Western and Eastern Arts reflects who I am and plays a key role in my art creation. My ultimate dream as an artist is to continue developing unique styles of "Contemporary traditional arts" that reflects our current time and speaks to viewers in the Millennium.
Asian American Artist, Educator and Founder
pseudonym: 大白菜
Artist Name changes from 小白菜 to 大白菜 and one day to 老白菜
Archived by:
AAA.org (Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong China)
AAAC (Asian American Arts Center, New York City U.S.A.)
Widewalls.ch (World leading Contemporary and Urban Arts database)
Faculty:
UC Berkely Extension, SF (current)
School of Visual Arts, NYC
Maryland Institute College of Arts
Tyler School of Arts, Temple University
The Art Institute
Founder of:
Guo Hua Modernist Movement 國畫型人
Silicon Valley Art and Technology Meetup
Asia Team Behance (Adobe)
Member of:
Asian American Women Artists Association
A Chinese Culture Foundation of San Francisco Program
Hong Kong International Art Society
Hong Kong International Photography Society
California Artists
Artist Bio
Anita Yan Wong, M.F.A., M.A., is an American Chinese Impressionist painter best known for her distinct dynamic brush works and unique style of "Contemporary Traditional" paintings that defies tradition and modernity. The artist, now living in California, United States, is a 4th generation Lingnan painter leading the "Contemporary Lingnan Movement" (新)嶺南畫派 – a breakthrough from the traditional Lingnan school of painting (which originated in southern China in the late 19th century, known for the fusion of modern Chinese and Western painting approaches.). Her "Contemporary Traditional" paintings breakthrough from the more traditional 2nd and 3rd generation Lingnan painters such as Chao's and his followers from South Asia. As a 4th generation (21st century) Lingnan artist whom has grew up in the digital age and studied art in both east and west; her body of work truly reflects the current time but at the same time first slogan from the Lingnan founding fathers – “Balancing Chinese and foreign, blending ancient and modern (折衷中外、融會古今)” – they allow the now considered "Traditional" medium to once again questions the minds of the Millennial and generation Z. What are the roles and meanings of Traditional Arts to the viewers living in the contemporary art world?
Wong's innovative New Lingnan arts are currently featured Internationally in both Traditional and Hip Cultural blogs and magazines – they reflects current time and speaks to the modern minds in the information age, Wong's efforts in education and innovation as a 4th generation Lingnan painter is also recognized and researched by Academics; Art historians and Phd students Internationally, such as University of Naples "L'Orientale, Italy and the Phd Department of history of art and archaeology, University of London. She has collaborated with MAHB, Stanford University with the goal of preserving Lingnan Guo Hua and the beauties in nature. Yale University's China Hands Magazine described her paintings as “Traditional art form that questions the modern minds.”
Wong is a long time pupil of Hsin Pengjiu, a World-renowned Lingnan style master and one of the first female student of Chao Shao An and Pu Hsin-Yu (Aisin-Gioro Puru), cousin of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. Her works are currently featured Internationally in both traditional and Hip Cultural magazines including N.Y. Arts, cover story of Works & Conversations 2017 (displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, SFMOMA, the Kandinsky Library at the Pompidou Center, Paris and Harvard library), Art Dependence Magazine; selected illustration arts for Emmy award winning Magazine by Adam McKay and Mike Farah. She was awarded first place wall art by “Design within Reach” in Design Philadelphia Award. Wong has taught at the School of Visual Arts, Temple University , the Maryland Institute College of Art and is currently teaching Contemporary Chinese painting at UC Berkeley Extension fine art department in San Francisco, California.
The artist received her first western art education – B.A. (Honors) in Graphic Design from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London after graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University Art and Design department; her M.F.A. and M.A. in Digital Photography and Digital Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art. Wong served as a electronic media and cultural professor for over thirteen years before returning to a sole focus on her art in 2015. During this time, she was awarded Excellence Scholars from Maryland Institute College of Art and “Teaching excellence honor” from the Art Institute. Throughout the years the artist took part in an array of non profit artistic projects around the world including Baltimore international rhythm festival, Academy of Natural History Museum insects show and Action AIDS. With her cross platforms interest like film and electronic media – she has also served as a guest speaker for many events, including film and television director Bob Giraldi (best known for the creator of Michael Jackson music video).
Nature is the main inspiration for the artist who equally admires works by Abstract Expressionist brush painters such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning; the Impressionists such as Claude Monet and the beautiful and expressive brush works found in Asian rice paper paintings. With her background in creating moving imagery, Anita explores the movements of subjects and passage of time with her fast moving brush, which is why animals and natural elements represent recurrent topics in her work. Seemingly alive– tigers and birds in full flight experience a certain level of abstraction but still retain their natural appeal. Perception is also recurrent topic in her paintings as the artist tries to explore various ways individuals perceive her imagery. Inspired by Duchamp, Wong believes her Contemporary Traditional paintings is not intended to please the eye, Instead it could be used as a tool to serve the mind. The artist have started the Contemporary Traditional art movement with her pupils @ UC Berkeley extension – Guo Hua Modernist Movement 國畫型人 with the goal of inspiring more to practice Contemporary Traditional Arts in the digital age.
Current Lingnan School of Painting
“Balancing Chinese and foreign, blending ancient and modern (折衷中外、融會古今)” – the revolutionary slogan by three founders of Lingnan School of painting. Gao Jianfu (高劍父, 1879–1951), Gao Qifeng (高奇峰, 1889–1933), and Chen Shuren (陳樹人, 1884–1948)
"My life is different than the last generation of Lingnan painters – the world is becoming smaller and I like to think that the slogan by the founding fathers is no longer just a statement to inspire – I am living my life differently than the 2nd and 3 generation of Lingnan painters. Growing up in Beijing, Hong Kong, London and the U.S.; having the opportunity to experience higher art educations in both west and east made me question if Lingnan art is behind the current state of Arts in the informational age. I was lost as the new generation don't really practice traditional arts as I did every day since I were 5 year old) and the older generation of Lingnan painters did not experience the World the same way as the Millennials whom is living in the digital age. During the moments of solitude, I often look up to the founding fathers for their revolutionary innovation in art during their time and wonder why Lingnan no longer match the current image of what is Contemporary in Arts. I would like to think that my life is well spend if I could change this image and inspire the young again by truly carrying out the essence of Lingnan –Balancing Chinese and foreign, blending ancient and modern. Not to be afraid of being judged and push Lingnan art into another level that reflects my time and inspire the viewers again with this beautiful art form." – Anita's reflections, 2019
Artist Statement
My current works have been dealing with dynamic movements in nature; individualism in the viewer’s eyes and the role of Contemporary Traditional art form and brush works (in particular pushing the boundaries of Traditional Lingnan Style Chinese Painting to the next level) in the Millennium. My current "AR brushed ink" (Augmented Reality ink) 互動水墨 painting series explores black ink in both 2D and 3D space. I see "Bi" as my handwritings, an expression highly individual. Freehand brushworks I create identify me from any other human beings– they serves as a medium for me to convey my emotions and meanings of the subject. The unique style is created by isolating/amplifying a single Lingnan brush technique – 雙 鉤 (freehand outlining) from the usually colored Lingnan style.
Older works like "Rorschach", 2016 for example, offers the viewer a Rorschach test, which invites them to question openly on what the individual sees of traditional art in the digital age. This invitation lets the viewer see art with not just the eyes but also the mind. It allows an old ancient art form to question the modern minds. My 2016 painting series “Preserve” uses pins to preserve real insects and objects found in nature reflects my ultimate goal: Preserving the beauty from nature and the ancient art form of Lingnan Guo hua (The National Art of China during 19th century). Both Traditional and Hip Cultural; Western and Eastern Arts reflects who I am and plays a key role in my art creation. My ultimate dream as an artist is to continue developing unique styles of "Contemporary traditional arts" that reflects our current time and speaks to viewers in the Millennium.
