An Jianjun - A Vibrant Artist
Professor, Senior Architect, Interior Designer
An Jianjun graduated with an arts degree from Shandong University of Art & Design in 1988. As an avant-garde artist and professional designer, he has over twenty years of experience and has had many of his works featured and exhibited. His artworks are a reflection of human life and modern society with many added to the collections of friends and collectors. Some of his most prominent works include Crow, Renoir Bathing Girl, Coffee Shop, and Dancing. In addition to painting, he has also designed many large-scale architectural works, including the reconstruction of the cultural landmark Yao Temple in Linfen, Shanxi, the library at North China Institute of Technology, and many more.
In 2005, he immigrated to Canada, and in 2006, he founded the New Primary Color School of Art and Design. He continued to pursue his love for oil paintings and design, incorporating not only the traditional Oriental style of his homeland but also constantly seeking for new breakthroughs, thoroughly researching the language and beauty perspectives of Western art. With an increased understanding of Western art, his own art style also began to slowly shift and change, until it became a merge of both east and west. His art carries the charm of Oriental culture but also conveys a unique hint of Western art. At the same time, he is also devoted to teaching to let more children thoroughly understand the variety, creativity, and international aspects of art. He wishes to allow students who come from China to fully experience, feel, and understand the essence behind Western art and to guide and educate these students to enter the top art and design universities in North America.
In 2008, he entered the White Rock Arts Council, then the Delta Arts Council in 2009. In January 2009, he had a solo exhibition with the White Rock Arts Council, then participated in the joint art exhibition in December. In 2010, he entered the Vancouver Chinese Artists Association and participated twice in their joint art exhibitions. In July of the same year, he had another solo exhibition in Delta. In 2011, he participated in the Art Specific Exhibition hosted by the Delta Arts Council and was able to obtain an award. In 2012, he was invited to attend a joint art exhibition hosted again by the Delta Arts Council before joining The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) and attending the joint exhibition Work on Paper. In 2013, he entered a contract with Agora Gallery and in March 2014, he attended their spring exhibition in New York. Afterwards, in November of the same year, he participated in OpenArtCode Exhibition held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France. In May 2015, he held another solo exhibition in Richmond. In August of the same year, he participated in the Fragmented Reality Exhibition held by Agora Gallery in New York. In February 2016, An once again participated in the OpenArtCode Exhibition held in Venice, Italy. In the same year, he participated in the Limitless, Active Member Show, and Culture Exhibitions held by The Federation of Canadian Artists and one of his exhibited artworks, Come Back Home, was able to win 3rd place during the Culture Exhibition. In 2017, he was invited to participate in the OpenArtCode Exhibition held in Paris, France; he participated in the same event once more in April 2018, this time held at the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy.
An Jianjun’s Philosophy of Art
The cornerstone of my art is based on both Expressionism and Realism. In the process of creating art, I observe the objects of reality around me, putting together the traditional culture with the modern culture. I pay attention and carefully observe the living things and human lives around me, using modern society and nature as my source of creativity to portray humanistic feelings. Of my years in Canada, the only unchanging things are my passion for art, the essence of the Oriental culture that has been left behind in me and a spotless canvas. What has changed and remains to do so is the freedom and vitality of western culture that continues to inspire me. The innovative nature and boundless thought patterns of western art hit me in endless waves, one after another, purifying my soul along with my thoughts. In my works, the curve of lines, the large splatters of colour and unnamed shapes are like the tracks of my life: blurred, complex, chaotic. There is an unspoken urge to search through the complexity, to feel the simplicity and revitalise past memories, to let the canvas be filled with tension, and the colours, full of life.
The works that I have done in these past few years are derived from my everyday life. The source of inspiration might have been a local coffee shop, the grass that I walk on, my neighbours on their daily walk, or anything else that I chance upon. My artworks are not of a single style as there is no stylised theme, and I use many different materials to express myself. I appreciate the many different methods available in the process of creation and use just as many, if not more, approaches to search for the ideal way to present and convey my feelings ranging from happiness to anger to sadness.
As an artist, I will continue to explore the language of painting and the colourful world that nature has bestowed to humans. Each of my paintings has different lines expressing different things. I love to explore the potential of each line and observe how they change as I paint. I will devote the rest of my life to the pursuit of the infinite pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness that is brought by painting.
An Jianjun’s Philosophy of Design
What truly makes a great designer is a rich cultural background and being able to integrate the unique traits of both eastern and western regions to design an architectural artwork that fits in with its local environment. What comes from nature, returns to nature, and goes beyond nature.
In 2005, he immigrated to Canada, and in 2006, he founded the New Primary Color School of Art and Design. He continued to pursue his love for oil paintings and design, incorporating not only the traditional Oriental style of his homeland but also constantly seeking for new breakthroughs, thoroughly researching the language and beauty perspectives of Western art. With an increased understanding of Western art, his own art style also began to slowly shift and change, until it became a merge of both east and west. His art carries the charm of Oriental culture but also conveys a unique hint of Western art. At the same time, he is also devoted to teaching to let more children thoroughly understand the variety, creativity, and international aspects of art. He wishes to allow students who come from China to fully experience, feel, and understand the essence behind Western art and to guide and educate these students to enter the top art and design universities in North America.
In 2008, he entered the White Rock Arts Council, then the Delta Arts Council in 2009. In January 2009, he had a solo exhibition with the White Rock Arts Council, then participated in the joint art exhibition in December. In 2010, he entered the Vancouver Chinese Artists Association and participated twice in their joint art exhibitions. In July of the same year, he had another solo exhibition in Delta. In 2011, he participated in the Art Specific Exhibition hosted by the Delta Arts Council and was able to obtain an award. In 2012, he was invited to attend a joint art exhibition hosted again by the Delta Arts Council before joining The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) and attending the joint exhibition Work on Paper. In 2013, he entered a contract with Agora Gallery and in March 2014, he attended their spring exhibition in New York. Afterwards, in November of the same year, he participated in OpenArtCode Exhibition held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France. In May 2015, he held another solo exhibition in Richmond. In August of the same year, he participated in the Fragmented Reality Exhibition held by Agora Gallery in New York. In February 2016, An once again participated in the OpenArtCode Exhibition held in Venice, Italy. In the same year, he participated in the Limitless, Active Member Show, and Culture Exhibitions held by The Federation of Canadian Artists and one of his exhibited artworks, Come Back Home, was able to win 3rd place during the Culture Exhibition. In 2017, he was invited to participate in the OpenArtCode Exhibition held in Paris, France; he participated in the same event once more in April 2018, this time held at the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy.
An Jianjun’s Philosophy of Art
The cornerstone of my art is based on both Expressionism and Realism. In the process of creating art, I observe the objects of reality around me, putting together the traditional culture with the modern culture. I pay attention and carefully observe the living things and human lives around me, using modern society and nature as my source of creativity to portray humanistic feelings. Of my years in Canada, the only unchanging things are my passion for art, the essence of the Oriental culture that has been left behind in me and a spotless canvas. What has changed and remains to do so is the freedom and vitality of western culture that continues to inspire me. The innovative nature and boundless thought patterns of western art hit me in endless waves, one after another, purifying my soul along with my thoughts. In my works, the curve of lines, the large splatters of colour and unnamed shapes are like the tracks of my life: blurred, complex, chaotic. There is an unspoken urge to search through the complexity, to feel the simplicity and revitalise past memories, to let the canvas be filled with tension, and the colours, full of life.
The works that I have done in these past few years are derived from my everyday life. The source of inspiration might have been a local coffee shop, the grass that I walk on, my neighbours on their daily walk, or anything else that I chance upon. My artworks are not of a single style as there is no stylised theme, and I use many different materials to express myself. I appreciate the many different methods available in the process of creation and use just as many, if not more, approaches to search for the ideal way to present and convey my feelings ranging from happiness to anger to sadness.
As an artist, I will continue to explore the language of painting and the colourful world that nature has bestowed to humans. Each of my paintings has different lines expressing different things. I love to explore the potential of each line and observe how they change as I paint. I will devote the rest of my life to the pursuit of the infinite pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness that is brought by painting.
An Jianjun’s Philosophy of Design
What truly makes a great designer is a rich cultural background and being able to integrate the unique traits of both eastern and western regions to design an architectural artwork that fits in with its local environment. What comes from nature, returns to nature, and goes beyond nature.
