Licht aus der Nacht
| Height | 60 cm |
|---|---|
| Width | 50 cm |
| Length/Depth | 2 cm |
One-off piece – original artwork.
Material:, acrylic on canvas
Description:
In the darkness of a rural night sky, a warm yellow light shines – a symbol of home, memories and the solitude of past generations. The deep black of the background is not merely emptiness, but shimmers with a textured surface reminiscent of distant stars. The red area suggests my grandfather’s house, whilst the small green element embodies a solitary tree silhouette standing in the darkness.
This is a personal work that documents the reality of rural China in the 1990s: young people moving to distant cities to work, elderly people and children left behind in the countryside – I am one of those children left behind. The painting speaks of this silence, this distance, but also of the light of warmth that never fades.
Concept & Distinctive Features
✔ Multi-layered textures – the combination of smooth and rough surfaces creates a unique sense of depth.
✔ Strong symbolic colours: red as a reminder of home, yellow as a source of warmth in the darkness, green as a symbol of nature and solitude.
✔ Minimalist yet emotionally charged: a pared-back composition with intense expressiveness.
✔ A personal story – a work full of nostalgia and quiet melancholy.
Guoqiang Wu
Education:,
2016–2017 Academy of Arts (ASK) Berlin, Course: Fine Art – Painting,
2017–2021 Essen University of Fine Arts under Prof. Nicola Stäglich, Course:
Painting
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Printmaking Artist’s Statement :
My art springs from my innermost consciousness. Through my works, I wish to express my most primal thoughts and thereby make visible my existence as a thinking being in this world.
Over time, experiences, encounters and emotions accumulate, causing my works to reflect various moods. Yet despite all these changes, my fundamental way of thinking remains unchanged. During my early years at university, my works were often chaotic – to some, this may have appeared to be an unstructured or immature technique. Yet for me, it was a natural process of growth, an honest portrayal of life. Over time, my works became more minimalist, clearer and more three-dimensional. I did not consciously steer this development – it simply manifested itself in my art. This style continues to characterise my work to this day: clear geometry, strong colour contrasts and deliberate reduction. Large monochrome areas combined with fine lines or multiple blocks of colour create a sharp, almost cutting effect. This clarity and directness reflect my mindset at the time – no compromises, no detours.
Today, I yearn for purity, clarity and directness.
A defining theme in my art is my childhood. I grew up in a Chinese village whilst my parents worked in the city to make ends meet. My grandparents brought me up. The longing for my parents made me emotionally sensitive – I dreamt of seeing them again. This profound emotional experience has found its way into my works, for it is part of my most personal perception of reality.
Later, I worked in a warehouse in Germany for seven years – a long time during which I did not pick up a paintbrush. This phase was formative and difficult for me, yet it is part of my life. In early 2025, I consciously brought this chapter of my life to a close by handing in my notice. Perhaps this experience, too, will one day become a new artistic theme.
Whatever the theme, technique or material – I remain true to my original ideas. My art is not staged, but an honest reflection of the world from the perspective of an ordinary person.
Exhibitions:,
2019.
“Vor Ort” – Students and lecturers from the HBK Essen, Maschinenhalle in Dorsten,
2020.
9. Revierkunst, Zeche Ewald Herten.
HBK Essen 2020 School Scholarship Nomination
Other artworks by the artist
