Design pioneer

Chen Zhifo (1896-1962) was a renowned figure in the flower-and-bird genre of Chinese painting. His work is characterized by meticulous detail and vivid colors. He was also an educator who taught important artists such as Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010). Chen's painting was greatly shaped by his study and practice of graphic design. Tribute to Design, an exhibition at Guan Shanyue Art Museum through to July 16, in Shenzhen, introduces Chen's accomplishment in designing graphic patterns, book covers and magazines. Juxtaposing his design work with his paintings, it reveals the links between them. Chen studied graphic design in Japan, during which he came to understand its importance in modern life, and he sees it as his mission to develop Chinese design. He found sources in the patterns and colors on antiques, classic art and folk crafts. He cataloged those motifs, wrote articles and published books so that his students and those in the industries could also be touched by the motifs of the country's cultural heritage and find ways to integrate them into their work.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.6026 Hongli Road, Futian district, Shenzhen, Guangdong province.0755-8306-3086.