Beacon in the Storm: The Art of Pang Jiun

The first international illustrated monograph on pioneering Chinese oil painter Pang Jiun.

Pang Jiun, a master of Eastern Expressionism, uniquely fuses traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western oil painting techniques, and draws inspiration from literati painting, calligraphy, Impressionism, Fauvism, and even classical music. Born into an artistic family in Shanghai in 1936, his father, Pang Xunqin, studied oil painting in France and upon returning to China, co-founded the modern art group Storm Society along with Ni Yide. Now approaching his nineties, Pang Jiun continues diligently to create art. His graceful and transcendental brushwork at times resembles an exuberant dance, at others, an elegant and lyrical lament. Through his keen and delicate sense of color and vivid, precise lines, he captures moments of enlightenment in life, expressing his boundless passion for existence.

Featuring new essays by scholars from the East and the West, the book traces Master Pang’s life from his birth to his international acclaim, and his time teaching in Taiwan. Beacon in the Storm explores his influences and details his stylistic evolution, all of which underpin the philosophical mission to create distinctly Chinese oil paintings. In so doing, this volume highlights Pang’s significance as a bridge between Eastern harmony and Western expressionism. By positioning Master Pang as a pioneering beacon, this book uniquely connects artistic practice, feeling, and philosophy across generations and continents.