Zhan Jianjun, was born in Liaoning province in 1931. He graduated from the Beijing State Run Art School in 1948, from the Central Academy of Fine Arts Oil Painting Department in 1953, from the post-graduate class of the Traditional Chinese Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1955 and from the special USSR Oil Painting Training 
Class of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1957. Today, Zhan Jianjun is a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and member of the Chinese Federation of Literature and Art Circles, Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Artists’ Association, Chairman of the Chinese Oil Painting Society and committee member of the Chinese People’s Consultive Conference. He has traveled extensively and his work has been exhibited in Africa, France, Hong Kong, Japan and Russia. Zhan Jianjun’s work is represented in numerous private and museum collections including the National Art Museum of China, the Chinese Revolutionary History Museum, and the Chinese Military Museum, all in Beijing.
Tajik Old Man, C. 1980's
Oil on Board
21" x 19 1/2" (53.3cm x 49.5cm)About this work
Of his “Tajik Old Man” painting Zhan Jianjun has said, “I did this while on a trip to Xinjiang province and as a demonstration for a class because I found the subject to be so very different from anyone I had painted in Beijing. We may not have a very long history of oil painting in China, but we have a rich culture with many minorities and I like to draw upon these for my portrait studies.” The low angle from which the subject is painted emphasizes the shape and size of his fur hat. The fact that the subject is from Tajikistan in the far North explains why he is wearing warm clothing.
Old Man From the North, 1981
Oil on Board
21" x 30" (53.3cm x 76.2cm)About this work
Zhan Jianjun has chosen an old man from Northern China as the subject for this painting. The layers of clothing and the fur hat the subject wears let the viewer know it is cold in the North of China. The artist has used a thin wash style with his oils and painted on board to give the piece a different quality, almost like that of an illustration.
