Chinese Pastel Artist, Painter Spending Year at MSUM
Chinese artist Hao Lin was so impressed with the work of MSUM artist-teacher Zhimin Guan, he uprooted himself and his family to live in Moorhead and study with Guan for an entire year. Lin received a visiting artist grant from his university, supported by the Chinese ministry of education. Lin considered many artists around the world, and ultimately chose Guan as his mentor. He has been studying with Guan and working as a visiting professor in his painting and drawing classes since last March.
Guan is thrilled to have Lin on campus. “Students notice his talents and are very excited to learn from him,” he said, adding that Lin is also leading a drawing and painting “co-op” for visual art students and community artists. Students don’t mind that Lin speaks very little English, and relies on his phone for translations. “He is working very hard,” says Guan, who hopes the visit might lead to future exchanges with China.
Born in the Fujian Province in China, Lin graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of Fujian Normal University in 1994. In 1999, he attended high level workshops on the painting materials of France Abrahan Pincas at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. From 2003 to 2004, he studied at Moscow National Normal University, sponsored by the Chinese ministry of education.
Lin is a member of the Chinese Artists Association, associate professor of the Academy of Fine Arts of Fujian Normal University, and a master teacher of oil painting. His works have been selected for numerous national, regional and international awards and exhibitions.
Lin’s work is currently featured in an exhibit of work by MSUM faculty artists in the Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery. The exhibit continues through Nov. 3. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about Lin’s co-op class, which started in early October and takes place every Monday from 6 to 8:30 p.m., contact the class coordinator, Nicki Kereluk, at (218) 477-2317. For a one-time model fee of $35, students may attend as many co-op classes as they want to for the remainder of MSUM’s fall semester.