The Program of Specific National Award for 20th Century Arts Collection and Donation is a national cultural project aiming to collect art works created by predominant artists who have gained great achievements in their creative career. Since the scheme was designed, it has received enormous attention and support from Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Finance. After primary investigation and evaluation, it came into force in 2004. When carrying out the program, the National Art Museum of China obtained encouraging feedbacks from many older artists and families of deceased artists. They all devoted their commitment for China’s cause of art: some of them generously donated their or their relatives’ works; and some of them contributed all their art collections, which embody the effort of the artists and carry the patriotic feelings of the donators. Also, the variety of these works adds color to the art collection of National Art Museum of China. For this reason, a series of books entitled “Donated Works Collected by National Art Museum of China” are published to demonstrate and memorize their artistic achievements and devotion for China. Donated Works of Wang Renfeng Collected by National Art Museum of China is one of the series.
　　Wang Renfeng, with his former name Wang Yilun, was born in Chi Town, Quanjiao County, Anhui Province.　He began to use the nom de plume “Renfeng” when he started woodcarving in 1938. In 1939, he taught art　in Chongqing Yucai School, which was established by Tao Xingzhi, a famous educator of China. In 1943 he　served as Director of China Woodcarving Institute and propagandized Anti Japanese War together with　Social Education Team of Chuankang Highway. He held his personal exhibition in 1944. Two years later,　after he went to Shanghai, he participated in the preparation for Woodcarving Exhibition with the Theme　of Anti-Japanese War and published Collected Woodcarving with the Theme of Anti-Japanese War. In the　same year, he held Exhibition of Drawings of Life and Nature by Wang Renfeng. In the next year, he　published Collected Works of Wang Renfeng’s Woodcarving and held Exhibition of Renfeng’s Paintings. In　1948, during his drawing tour of Keelong, Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, he held Exhibition　of Renfeng’s Paintings in Taipei. In 1949, heading south with the troops of Liberation Arm, he　participated in the preparation of Southwest Federation of Literary and Art Circles and presented　himself in the first National Congress of Literary and Art Circles. In 1951, he was assigned to Beijing　Federation of Literary and Art Circles. In 1955 he studies in the part-time class of Maximoff Oil　Painting Training Program, which is named after a painter of former Soviet Union. He was wrongly found　guilty of being a Rightist in 1957 and forced to labor in Nanjiao Farm. After his grievance was　redressed in 1979, he attended the fourth National Congress of Artists. In the next year, he was　assigned to Beijing Art Academy. He won the Achievement Award for Chinese New Woodblock Print Making　given by China Artists Association for his great influence in China’s new woodblock print making　campaign.
　　Wang Renfeng began his career of woodblock print making when Anti-Japanese War fully broke out.　Encouraged by the spirit of the time, he devoted all his enthusiasm to the undertaking of striving for　national independence. Using woodcut knife as his weapon, he sculpted with sharp lines Chinese
　　people, amidst bitter anguish, fighting for survival. He expressed the passion of the war and the　hardship of the people to lift the national spirit. From 1945 to 1949, based on concrete reality, he　depicted the public living conditions of struggle out of deep despair, unveiled the national hardship in　that particular era, and called for peace, democracy and development for the people. His compelling　works, like “Demolished Family”, “Flood” and “Living”, disclose the injustice and evil in the　world and are filled with concerns and compassion for the destiny of individuals as well as the country.　After People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, he inquired into the new life and new era,　expressed the happiness of the people and showcased the progress of social development. These works,　such as “Antiphonal Singing on the Road” and “Constructing Chuanjiang Waterway” brim with passion of　the new era. Wang Renfeng’s works, exemplified by his early works in particular, are full of strength　like bronze/stone inscription. These works illustrate his conscience, justice and humanism as an　intellectual and have tremendous historic values and features. Wang Renfeng’s practice and life　represent many artists in that time and highlight the development of art in a particular historical　period, and thus are very typical and important in terms of academic study.
　　On his 90th birthday, Mr. Wang Renfeng donated his art works to the country, which were created in　different times but all represent his lifelong pursuit. The National Art Museum of China will cherish　these works forever. The precious donation, like Mr. Wang Renfeng’s artistic pursuit, belongs China as well as Chinese people.

 National Art Museum of China
March, 2008