Guo: Developing Chinese Painting

One of the rooms of Nelayan Restaurant in Ancol, Norther Jakarta, was busy. Most of the attendances are middle-aged ladies. There were only few men. Some were busy brushing paint on paper, and several other ladies were busy paying attention to a 15 meter length paper.

“This is the work of Qibaishi, the imitation of Guo Peng. But it is excellent, so much similarity,” praised one of the ladies, while keeping her eyes on the paper.

And those middle-aged ladies are Guo Peng’s pupils. They were learning to paint Chinese painting, for it is believed to bring peace to the mind, and each scrap is gentleness and patience.

Guo Peng. He is a man of Chinese origin whom was born in the City of Zhou Pi Jiangsu, on April 21, 1980. He is a tall man with slanted eyes, swift character who loves to give directions to his pupils. He is quite young. Even so, his talent of art had appeared since he was five years old. To sharpen his skills, at the age of 20 he enlisted in the Fine-Arts Faculty of Nan Jing University. In Nan Jing he has already hold two exhibitions, while in Jakarta he did one. His first ever painting is titled “Bamboo and Avian”.

He came from a less fortunate family. While attending college in Nan Jing, he lived poorly. Not even for food, to just get paper and ink Guo Peng had to buy them on credit. “All I ate everyday were only salted vegetables and bakpao,” he reminisced.

With troublesome condition, in year 2004 after graduating from college, Guo Peng explored Indonesia. He was accepted to teach Mandarin in one of the international schools in Jakarta. Ever since then live has been getting better for him. From his teaching earnings, he settled all his debts in Nan Jing.

During his stay In Indonesia, Guo Peng did plenty of observations to Indonesian artists. Avanti and Srihadi are amongst many Indonesian artists who he perceives to have the best masterworks. “I also wish to do my best in the line of art. I will never cease to create,” he claimed.

At the age of 30 he proposed to Yu Xia Fen. From their marriage they have a son who is now 3 years old, named Guo Hou Ze. Guo Peng paints with his own principle. He does not want to paint basing on other styles or comprehensions. He will keenly paint what he likes. He does not care what other people comments are. Those are the things that make his ideas flow.

Concerning Ling Nan Lung, Guo Peng states that the person is one of the best Chinese artists in Indonesia. Ling Nan Lung ideas came from Lin Feng Mian. Guo Peng is very fond of the modern and abstract works by ling Nan Lung. According to Guo Peng, Ling Nan Lung only does what is aspired. Painting with feelings.

“Ling lives at the inappropriate era and time, when the masterworks are of very high value,” said Guo Peng.