Jiangang Su – Artist Biography
Jiangang Su was born in 1974 Suzhou, China. His paintings and calligraphy are deeply influenced by Chinese Jiangnan culture. His works of classical landscapes, flowers, and birds result from details and freehand. His fine brushwork is delicate and clean, while the freehand part is illusory and ethereal, which naturally fits well with Chinese classical gardens in Suzhou, Jiangnan, China.
In 1987, Jiangang Su studied under the well-known artist Yan Gongda, who was a professor at Tsinghua University and vice-chairman of Chinese Calligraphers Association. Su enrolled in university in 1992 and majored in Arts & Crafts, and later started his professional career as an artist and art educator after he earned the highest level of calligraphy teaching certification in China.
Jiangang Su moved to Vancouver in 2016. He immediately came to love Vancouver’s openness and diversity and established a solid relationship with the Great Wall Gallery in Toronto and Lipont Gallery in Vancouver. In addition, he has held many successful solo exhibitions and received excellent responses. Regarding art education, Su’s students are throughout North America, including art students from Emily Carr University of Arts and Design, Vancouver Film School, and art lovers, especially architects who are passionate about Chinese culture.
Besides art career and art education, Su is enthusiastically involved in charity work. Before the pandemic, he participated in Tzu Chi’s calligraphy charity event in October each year by writing and donating Spring Festival couplets. In 2020, two pieces of his artworks participated in pandemic relief charity auction hosted by Lipont Gallery.
The future world is one that requires diversity and interaction, where different cultures respect and influence each other. Painting is about everything other than painting. Su enjoys the conversations with ancestors by watching the classic works of Song and Yuan Dynasties, feeling their quietness and history. He immerses himself in the beautiful mountains and rich greenery of Vancouver. The images of local birds are painted with the most traditional meticulous techniques, including natural mineral pigments, Suzhou silk, and other extraordinarily delicate and ancient materials used for creation, and the result is imposing.
Jiangang Su – Artist Statement
“My art is deeply rooted in the culture of Suzhou region in East China, where intricate details are often skilfully woven into a minimalistic serenity in textiles, for which Suzhou is known. Such finesse is captured best in Suzhou Garden design and gongbi paintings (Chinese meticulous style painting), of which elements like landscape, flowers and birds often are used as metaphors to encapsulate the soul of Elysium dreams of sages and the spiritual quest of the artists.
While staying true to my roots and continuing the legacy of the ancient masters of Chinese art, I always have been inspired by the contemporary approaches of western aesthetics and the breathtaking nature of British Columbia. Currently, I have been developing a series of paintings around the local bird species, including Canada Goose, Common Yellowthroat, Dark-eyed Junco and others. I draw them with classic techniques, natural mineral pigments, hand-crafted silk from Suzhou and other traditional materials. I want to incorporate fresh visual elements to break the cultural boundaries and bring forth their universality through my art.”
– Jiangang Su 2022
Jiangang Su – CV
Jiangang Su (born in 1974), graduated from Changshu Institute of Technology in Arts and Crafts. He specializes in traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal carving. In the 1980s, he studied under Mr. Yan Gongda, a famous calligrapher and seal carver. Su is also an experienced art educator. His works are collected internationally and appear in the private collections of many art institutions and galleries. In 2017 he served as the Art Director of the Canada 150th Anniversary International Tea Festival. Su is a member of Jiangsu Calligraphers Association, the Suzhou Calligraphers Association, and is a senior registered Teacher of China.
2016 Carried by Materials and Navigating One’s Mind – Calligraphy and Crafts Exhibition organized by Suzhou Daily and Suzhou Art
2016 The Weight of Time – Documentary of Jiangang Su’s Art by Suzhou TV Station
2017 Moved to Vancouver. The refreshing style of his paintings are favoured by collectors in Toronto and Vancouver
2018 Artistic Conception Transcends Image – Exhibition of Jiangang Su’s Art, Shanghai
2020 Resonance of Paper Drifting – Exhibition and Online Auction of Paintings and Calligraphy by Jiangang Su, Lipont Gallery, Richmond, Canada
2021 Everlasting Happiness – Paintings and Seal Carving by Jiangang Su, Lipont Gallery, Richmond, Canada
2022 Kindness, Blessing, and Perfection – Traditional Chinese Paintings by Jiangang Su, Lipont Gallery, Richmond, Canada
November 2022, he was invited to participate in the Vancouver Zhongshan Park Artist-in-Residence Project and successfully founded the Vancouver (Yixian Cup) International Chinese Calligraphy Competition.
2023 Home Across the Water personal calligraphy and painting exhibition of Home Across the Water was successfully held in March.
From 2023 to 2024, he was hired to teach at Mulgrave School, The International School of Vancouver.
In January 2024, we collaborated with Danish audio brand B&O to jointly brand the Year of the Dragon series and hold a press conference.
The exhibition “Birds and Rocks in Cloud City” opened at Richmond City Hall Galleria on March 26, 2024.
Awards
Artistic Director of Canada’s 150th Anniversary International Tea Culture Festival
Canada 150th Anniversary Celebrations-Artist Achievement Award
蘇健剛
1974年生，畢業於常熟理工工藝美術專業，專攻書畫，金石治印亦有所長。八十年代即師從著名書法篆刻家言恭達先生（抱雲堂入室弟子），並有多年豐富的書畫教學經驗。書畫作品被多家藝術機構和畫廊收藏。
江蘇省書法家協會會員
蘇州市書法家協會會員
中國書法家協會高級註冊教師
2016年由蘇州日報，蘇州藝術主辦＂乘物遊心＂個性人書法·手作雅物展
2016年蘇州臺拍攝人物紀錄片＂時間的重量＂描述個人藝術創作過程。
2017年旅居溫哥華後，其清雅的畫風受到多倫多和溫哥華知名藏家的普遍好評。
2018年【象外生境】個人書畫展在上海成功舉辦。
2020年【落紙清音】 – 蘇健剛國畫·書法展，溫哥華力邦美術館
2021年 【長樂未央】蘇健剛國畫、書法、篆刻展，溫哥華力邦美術館
2022年【戩榖罄宜】蘇健剛國畫、書法、篆刻展，溫哥華力邦美術館
2022～2023年被聘為溫哥華中山公園駐園藝術家
獎項
加拿大建國150周年國際茶文化節藝術總監
加拿大150周年慶典藝術家成就獎
2022年11月受邀參與溫哥華中山公園駐園藝術家項目並成功創辦温哥华（逸仙杯）国际中文书法大赛
2023.03成功舉辦Home Across the Water 彼岸·吾鄉個人書畫展
2023 ～2024 受聘Mulgrave School, The International School of Vancouver教書法國畫。
2024.1月與丹麥音響品牌B ＆O合作聯名龍年系列。並舉辦發表會。
2024.3.26在列治文美術館舉辦展《雲城鳥巖》《Birds and Rocks in Cloud City 》
