For many years, we have guided collectors in their purchase of Hu Jundi’s master works and seen the many benefits of their decision.  We have decided to start a series of interviews and articles on Hu Jundi to help our future collectors of his work get a better understanding of the artist and his works.

For our first article of the series is a forward by renowned art critic from China, Zhong Biao.

Late Spring of March - original oil diptych by Hu Jundi

Hu Jundi Profile

Birth date: 1962 in Jilin province.

1984 graduated from Sichan Fine Arts College, Chongqing

Forward by Zhong Biao, Artist, Director, Chonqing Art Museum

I first saw Hu Jundi’s work in the magazine ‘China Oil Painting’. It made a deep impression on me. After a little while, an art exhibition was held in Beijing. I hoped to find this artist in the exhibition, so I went. I was so pleased to see Hu Jun Di’s originals there. Because the published images I had previously seen were small, the originals were a revelation! His work had an incredible impact on the people. He proved the most talented master. His work is full of dense Chinese colors, the lush atmosphere and Sichuan’s warm moisture is floating in the paintings. I was hooked instantly to his canvas melodies.

Nature, original oil by Hu Jundi (胡峻涤油画）

To find out more about him, I decided to go to his hometown, LeShan, in the Sichuan Province. Hu Jundi’s studio was not big, about 12 square meters. In order to concentrate on his art, he gave up his business and sold his house in Beijing, and left the disturbingly noisy place. He came back to his hometown and kept himself quiet to focus on the art. Jundi decided to paint a series subject about the famous novel Liaozhai. It reflects that the Chinese are not satisfied with the social circumstance at that time. He painted the elegant appearance of the Sichuan woman. His brilliance is in the harmonious blend of traditional Chinese brush with the unmatched depth of oils. His paintings are completely Chinese, with colors of the Sichuan environment, harmonious, incomplete borders. They reflect the shadow of the most famous Chinese artist XU BEI HONG. But the oils give it a more universal, lasting appeal. The women are serene and beautiful, the attire is classical Sichuan Chinese, but there seems to be an appeal that goes beyond just Chinese. He does not use models. He paints the character in his mind, searching from a person in his life. He chooses the most wonderful moment in his mind and paints it. Catching a moment, this is the Chinese painting skill. To do it with oil painting, it is the most difficult. It took years of patient trial and error, along with his immense talent to master.

Two Women in Snow, original oil by Hu Jundi （胡峻涤油画）

The works are as much a reflection of his spirit as his cool strength under pressure. As I know in China and probably the world, few artists can do that. In western artists I have seen, only Renoir could capture that style.

China has a very special artist ——- Hu Jun Di.

Serge Marshennikov's Original Female Oil Portraits - Light Dream At Noon

In the Serge Marshennikov painting “Light Dream At Noon”, the artist’s female nude model lies with her exposed right breast and arms vulnerably placed over her head. But the viewer becomes captivated by the artist’s detail work on the canvas. Serge’s ability to delicately paint the fabrics and the detail work of the lace texture becomes the viewer’s focus.  But afterward, your eye will study the softness of the subject and her simple beauty. When looking at the her hand, the viewer will recognize the true ability of this artist’s talent.  Serge Marshennikov has become one of San Diego’s finest artists and we are looking forward to newly arriving future master works.

Serge Marshennikov paintings are widely recognized and regarded.  His works also have been auctioned at high prices at such esteemed auction houses as Christies as well as others worldwide.  This is quite an accomplishment for a living artist and the currently escalating valuations reflect this desirability of his work.  In the recent decade where traditional investments have returned little with substantial volatility and risk, such works as those of Serge’s have appreciated nicely.  As a result, if Serge’s work grabs you, a purchase is smart for all the very best reasons;-)

Michael Hajdaj is the gallery director at Hallmark Galleries in La Jolla where he can most frequently be reached.  La Jolla and the surrounding La Jolla cove are a destination of many world travelers each year.  This area is part of San Diego and is a highly regarded art community there.