In the 5,000-year history of China, the dragon has evolved from an ancient totem to an auspicious charm into a spiritual and cultural symbol of the Chinese nation.
The dragon is the fifth in the zodiac, although it is a fictional animal, but the Chinese people have a special affection for it, and the status of the dragon is so high that no animal can compare with it. In the hearts of the Chinese, it is a kind of divine object that can call the wind and rain and soar the clouds and drive the fog. The emperor claimed to be the true dragon emperor, and the people claimed to be the descendant of the dragon.
People exert infinite imagination, the dragon is said to be magical and great, the image of various animals gathered in the dragon body, there is the wildness of the beast, the understanding of man, the spirituality of the gods, and created many legends about the dragon, these legends have been processed by the folk and polished by the literati and sublimated into a fascinating cultural element, symbolizing authority, dignity, wisdom and auspiciousness. People love, respect, and even worship dragons, perhaps this is an important reason why "dragons" can become the most important of the 12 zodiac signs.
On the occasion of the upcoming Year of the Dragon, Professor Zhang Guangcai respectfully tried to adopt the folk New Year's paper-cut style, integrating modern color and ink fashion elements, and presented you with a group of "auspicious dragon blessings" New Year's works.
Wishing readers and friends the Year of the Dragon in 2024: good health, family happiness, dragons and good luck!
Zhang Guangcai, born in 1958 in Fengxian County, Jiangsu, is a professor and former dean of the Academy of Fine Arts of Jiangsu Second Normal University, a director of the National Chinese Painting Society, a vice president of the Jiangsu Chinese Painting Society, a member of the Chinese Artists Association, an executive director of the Jiangsu Artists Association, the president of the provincial branch of the Jiangsu Artists Association, and the former deputy editor-in-chief of the National Curriculum Standards (Jiangsu Education Edition) Primary School Chinese.
The monograph "Zhang Guangcai's Painting Collection - Modern Color Ink Volume" was published by Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House; "Jiangsu Pictorial Nominates Outstanding Artists of the 21st Century - Zhang Guangcai" was published by Jiangsu Fine Arts Publishing House; "Zhang Guangcai's Illustration Art" was published by Jiangsu Education Press; Zhang Guangcai's Sketch Collection was published by Nanjing University Press.
Many of his articles have been published in national core journals such as "Fine Arts", "Chinese Painting and Calligraphy", and "Art Review"; Many of his works have participated in national art exhibitions and international art exchange exhibitions held in the United States, France, Russia, Japan, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and other countries, and have been collected by important academic institutions and individuals at home and abroad. He has drawn more than 1,000 cover and inner page illustrations for the primary school language of the National Curriculum Standards (Jiangsu Education Edition), and has made contributions to national basic education.
His academic achievements have been published by China Art Newspaper, China Art Newspaper, China Painting and Calligraphy Newspaper, Xinhua **, Jiangnan Times, Yangtze Evening News, Modern Express, China News Network, China Civilization Network, and China Social Science Network, CCTV, Xinhuanet, Phoenix, Sina, Sohu, Nanbaoand other widely reported at home and abroad.