About this Event
Artist Hudson Shaoxia Zhang will engage in dialogue with Glyn Satterley, a prominent photographer known for his distinctive Scottish Golf images, some of which were featured in the “The Art of Golf” exhibition at Edinburgh's National Gallery. Together, they will explore their unique approaches to capturing the essence of golf through diverse artistic mediums. This event is open to the public, offering an enriching opportunity to witness their shared passion for the game from contrasting artistic perspectives.
The Dialogue is part of the opening events of Hudson Shaoxia Zhang's (b. 1953, Nanjing) first solo exhibition in London at The Beveridge Hall, Senate House, University of London, from June 13th to 15th, 2024. This marks the artist's inaugural showcase of his golf course landscape paintings outside of China.
While “Chuiwan” an ancient Chinese game reminiscent of modern golf, enjoyed popularity among the royal court nearly a millennium ago, the Western world has largely dominated the contemporary game of golf. However, with China's economic reform and development over the past four decades, golf has rapidly gained traction, boasting nearly 400 courses across the country today.
As an early adopter, Chinese artist Hudson Shaoxia Zhang has been a fervent golf enthusiast for over three decades, alongside his influential roles as a professor of art history and a businessman. Since 2018, he has dedicated himself to capturing the landscapes of golf courses worldwide through drawing and painting, blending his twin passions of golf and art to create a distinctive and unparalleled body of work.
From Charles Lees' iconic painting "The Golfers" (1847) to Sir John Lavery's depictions of North Berwick Golf Course (1921-1922) and Andy Warhol's portrait of Jack Nicklaus (1978), artists have approached golf from diverse perspectives and mediums. Zhang, too, showcases this diversity in his portrayal of courses like China's Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, California’s Cypress Point Club, and New Jersey’s Pine Valley Golf Club, either from personal experience or his imagination. Each course, with its unique features—putting greens, fairways, bunkers, position of the flagstick, water hazards, trees, and weather conditions—contributes to the dynamic nature of golf courses, which Zhang meticulously captures.
Influenced by the “shifting perspective” evident in traditional Chinese landscape paintings, Zhang's depictions of golf courses challenge the conventional "fixed perspective" typically found in Western art. This exhibition presents 25 golf course landscape paintings by Zhang, spanning from 2020 to 2024. Through his unique perspectives and techniques, visitors are transported to renowned golf courses worldwide. As a professor of art history, Zhang's plein air scenes evoke historical landscape paintings, akin to the works of Corot and Hockney, who revisited similar subjects. Ultimately, Zhang's golf course landscapes are dreamscapes—vibrant, diverse, and painted with unwavering passion.
GOLF COURSE LANDSCAPES
Hudson Shaoxia ZHANG Solo Exhibition
The Beveridge Hall, Senate House, University of London
Opening Events
13th June 5.30pm – 6.30pm | Zhang Shaoxia in Conversation with Glyn Satterley
13th June 6.30pm – 8.30pm | Opening Reception
Public Viewing
14th June 10am – 6pm | 15th June 10am – 4pm
About Hudson Zhang Shaoxia
Hudson Shaoxia Zhang (B.1953, Nanjing) is a professor of art history, artist, businessman and avid golf enthusiast. Zhang was one of the first postgraduates to major in history of art in China in 1979. He wrote the most complete series of must-have art history textbooks for higher education during his three years of study at Nanjing University of the Arts. He subsequently became a Lecturer & Associate Professor at the university in 1982, continuing to publish dozens of art books in the 1980s, introducing western art history to a Chinese audience, titles including A Brief History of European Arts and Crafts, A History of Asian Arts and Crafts, A History of African and American Arts and Crafts, The History of Western Art Development (Volume I and II), etc. His publication, A History of Modern Chinese Painting (1986), co-authored with art critic Xiaoshan Li, caused a huge sensation upon its release and became one of the most iconic books associated with China's New Wave avant-garde art movement. In the late 1980s, he took a plunge into business in the Hainan Special Economic Zone. Notwithstanding his impressive business achievements over 30 years, he continued to write about art and also paint. Since 2018, he has been devoted to drawing and painting the landscapes of golf courses around the world, combining two of his great passions - as a golf enthusiast and fan of the sport for over 30 years and his love of art - creating a unique and unparalleled genre of work.
Press Inquiry
Lang Xiao
+44 7591 877 185
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
University of London, Malet Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
