Ding Shaoguang

Born in 1939 Shanxi Province.
In 1962 he graduated from the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts. From 1962 to 80, he taught at the Yunnan Arts Academy.
In 1979 he created a large mural entitled "Xishuangbanna, a Place of Beauty and Wonder" for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing A collection of sketches in Xishuangbanna was published the same year.
He went to the US in July 1980. Solo shows were held over 400 times in various countries from 1986 to 1996, and his paintings are collected in 50 countries and regions.
In the World Art Expo in Japan in 1990, he was ranked 29th in the top 100 art masters since the 14th century, the only Chinese artist on the list.
He was selected as the UN representative painter for three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995.
His wood print work "Light of Human Rights" was issued worldwide by the UN in 1993 to honor the World Human Rights Declaration by the UN and "Motherhood" was issued in 1994 to mark the International Family Year.
In 1995, his work "Religion and Peace" was issued globally. To commemorate the 4th World Women Conference the UN issued a set of stamps of six featuring his paintings. The first day covers and the stamps are now in the permanent collection at Geneva International Museum. He was the only Asian artist to be cited in a UN report in 1995 on 29 outstanding contemporary artists in the 50 years since UN's establishment. Now honorary and guest professor in a dozen of domestic and overseas universities, President of the International Chinese Artists' Association, First Chairman of the US World Artists' Federation, he have won numerous prizes offered by various countries and institutions, including honorary citizenship, the golden key and the naming of the Ding Shaoguang Day.
In 1996, National Art Museum of China organized the Ding Shaoguang Prize National Art Exhibition. His works have been published in China, the US, Japan, France, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. One collection published by the NHK Press in Japan granted the golden award for world cultural exchange in 1995.