The Paper has learned that Wang Zhenkun, a renowned Shanghai painter and book cover designer, passed away on the evening of October 11, 2025, at the age of 70. A farewell ceremony was held at the Shanghai Yishan Funeral Home on the afternoon of October 13, 2025. This artist, whose creative inspiration stems from Shanghai's urban life and who was a recipient of the Magnolia Award, Shanghai's highest art award, left behind a wealth of vivid visual memories of the city with his exaggerated and warm brushstrokes.
During his artistic career, Wang Zhenkun had deep contacts with many important figures in the Shanghai art world, especially his friendship with comic strip master He Youzhi and painter Xie Chunyan, which became a legend in the art world.
Wang Zhenkun (1955-2025)
Wang Zhenkun is a member of the Shanghai Artists Association and the Shanghai Writers Association. He has served as art editor for several magazines, including Shanghai Literary Forum, Shanghai Writers, and Shanghai Poets. In 1999, he became art director of Xinmin Weekly. His comic strip "Urban Whispers" won the Magnolia Award, the highest honor in the Shanghai art world.
Upon hearing the news of Wang Zhenkun's passing, renowned writer Chen Cun said, "On the 29th of last month, I sent Wang Zhenkun a WeChat message: 'Brother Zhenkun, your master recently accepted a disciple, and you, the senior brother, didn't attend the gathering. They said you weren't feeling well. I wonder if you're feeling better? The Shanghai weather must be playing tricks on you, too. Take care!" He didn't reply. I thought he was still ill, but I didn't expect he'd actually passed away. Thinking of his voice and appearance, I remember him as a responsible man who shouldered heavy responsibilities, occasionally getting drunk, but more often than not, smiling. Being with him was like the warmth of a friend, a tacit understanding. Rest in peace. May you be watching over us from heaven, and we'll continue to be together."
Xie Chunyan, Wang Zhenkun, and Pan Shunqi (from left to right)
Well-known cartoonist Pan Shunqi said: "I haven't seen Zhenkun's WeChat in a while, and I miss him very much. When I returned from Australia, I contacted his wife, who told me she was ill. I arranged for Zheng Xinyao and Sun Shaobo to visit him. Zhenkun was lying in bed. When he saw us, he opened his eyes wide but was speechless. I was very sad at the time because he was one of my best friends, usually quick-witted and energetic. I could only pray for his speedy recovery. I didn't expect to receive the news of his death so suddenly. It was so painful, it was almost impossible to accept."
Cross-border art, won the highest award in Shanghai art world
Born in December 1955, Wang Zhenkun spent his early years as a pattern designer and comic strip artist. Starting in the 1980s, he served as art editor for several magazines, including Shanghai Literary Forum and Society. In 1999, he became art director of Xinmin Weekly. He later served as art editor for Shanghai Writers and Shanghai Poets, both publications of the Shanghai Writers Association. As a versatile artist, Wang Zhenkun has made contributions in various fields, including illustration, comics, book binding, and design. In 2012, he published the book Food and Color Drawings, which depicts Shanghai men and women with digital pen drawings. These works, described as "exaggerated yet warm," evoke a smile in the viewer without feeling frivolous, showcasing his meticulous observation and portrayal of Shanghai's urban culture and civic life.
The comic strip "Shoulder to Shoulder" from the 1980s was written by Chu Xin and illustrated by Wang Zhenkun.
Wang Zhenkun in 2006. Photo by Chen Cun.
After retirement, Wang Zhenkun entered a golden age of artistic creation. In 2019, he won the Shanghai Magnolia Award, the highest honor in the art world, for his comic series "Urban Whispers." Originally intended as illustrations for an essay, the series of approximately 80 images depicts Shanghainese people's "city in their hearts, and their feelings in the city" during the modernization process.
This series of comics, comprised of 16 images selected from over 80, employs techniques such as cutouts, font transfers, paste infiltration, and ink bleeds. The works not only capture the shifting media landscape in the post-industrial era, but also explore the tension between individual freedom and urban planning. Zheng Xinyao, then-President of the Shanghai Artists Association, commented on the series, saying, "The characters are exaggerated, the compositions are absurd and whimsical, and the black, white, and gray palette is richly layered, creating a powerful visual impact."
Wang Zhenkun's comic work "Urban Whispers" won the Magnolia Award for Excellence at the 10th Shanghai Art Exhibition in 2019
Just as he understood the art of comics: "Comics should be both satirical and lyrical" - this dialectical view of art may be the best footnote to his creative career.
Wang Zhenkun, "Seal Carving by Mr. Li in the Year of the Tiger"
Regarding Wang Zhenkun's early comic strip creations, Luo Yezhou, Vice President and curator of the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Industry Association, said: "I actually read Mr. Zhenkun's comic strips when I was a child, because my father also drew comic strips, so we were in the same industry. Later, I got to know Mr. Zhenkun, and his style and humor have always inspired me. Later, I invited him to join our 'Weekly Meetup', and he happily agreed. However, after participating in a few activities, he told me that due to health reasons, he might not be able to join us for a while. I never expected that the tragic news would come so soon..."
Wang Zhenkun has also been involved in some art planning in Shanghai in recent years. He once curated the "Wisteria Spring" art exhibition at Mingche Shanfang in Jiading, Shanghai. Mingche Shanfang founder Yin Hao recalled: "He was involved in every detail of the 'Wisteria Spring' exhibition he curated two years ago. That exhibition was the easiest one I ever worked on. The chivalrous and courageous teacher Zhenkun passed away quietly, and he didn't even want to disturb us before his departure. Just like in all the years we knew each other, he was always righteous, always considerate of others, and never caused trouble for others."
The "Wisteria Spring" art exhibition at Mingche Mountain House. Wang Zhenkun is the sixth from the left.
Artistic Friendship: Both Teacher and Friend
During his artistic career, Wang Zhenkun had deep contacts with many important figures in the Shanghai art world, especially his friendship with comic strip master He Youzhi and well-known painter Xie Chunyan, which became a legend in the Shanghai art world.
Wang Zhenkun always admired He Youzhi and was deeply influenced by his art. In He Youzhi's later years, they often met and exchanged ideas. Xie Chunyan once wrote about how, during the Spring Festival before He Youzhi's death, he called to say he wanted to meet him for a drink. "He then invited Wang Zhenkun and Qian Jianguo, two of his students, to join him." That day, "Jianguo even brought a lot of snacks, which delighted He Youzhi greatly, and he drank more than he needed," capturing the close relationship between them as mentor and friend.
Portrait of Wang Zhenkun painted by He Youzhi
In 2021, on the fifth anniversary of Mr. He Youzhi's death, at the "White Drawing Spirit - Commemorative Symposium for Mr. He Youzhi", Wang Zhenkun said: "The white drawing spirit is actually the basic spirit of people and paintings. In fact, Mr. He Youzhi also inherited such a basic spirit, a painting spirit, and a humanistic spirit. I have admired Teacher He Youzhi since I was a child. Inspired by Teacher He's spirit, we have always insisted on painting. I painted a lot of white drawings when I was young, but later I was away from the path of "white drawing spirit" for a long time. Now I want to turn back halfway and continue Teacher He's spirit, the so-called "prodigal son returns". We hope that under the inspiration of Teacher He's spirit, we can continue the spirit of white drawing."
Taoyao Village, an early line drawing by Wang Zhenkun
Wang Zhenkun and Xie Chunyan's relationship was even more profound. Xie Chunyan was Wang Zhenkun's middle school teacher, and their teacher-student bond gradually blossomed into a shared artistic understanding and a close personal friend. Xie Chunyan's daughter, Xie Yiqing, affectionately calls Wang Zhenkun "family" and "big brother." She says, "When I was a child, big brother once held me in his arms. I still have a photo. Hearing the news has been incredibly heartbreaking. I still don't dare tell my parents, fearing they won't be able to accept it."
Wang Zhenkun holding the childhood Xie Yiqing
During Xie Chunyan's time as host of his column, "Chun Yan Guan Zhi," Wang Zhenkun was one of his most important artistic colleagues. He was also a guest at the book launch in 2019, witnessing this enduring friendship. Li Tianyang, director of the Xinmin Evening News's Newspaper History Museum and editor of Chunyan Guanzhi, is currently in Europe. He said, "I'm incredibly shocked! I knew Brother Zhenkun was ill and that his condition had worsened recently, and he wasn't attending social events. He loved his friends so much, and he loved life so much. I never expected he'd be gone so soon! Zhenkun was a talented artist with exceptional drawing and design skills. We collaborated extensively. He was the cartoonist for my pages, designed covers for several of my books, and curated exhibitions with me... I was able to fully appreciate his talent and passion. More importantly, he was a kind person, kind to his friends, family, and teachers. His teacher, Mr. Xie Chunyan, had many disciples, but Mr. Xie only referred to Brother Zhenkun as a family member. Brother Zhenkun truly treated his friends with the same warmth and devotion as a family member. He was a versatile figure in the cultural field, and his writing in recent years has been exceptional. His passing is a great loss to Shanghai's cultural community."
Painter Gu Cunyan said he had known Wang Zhenkun for over a decade because of Xie Chunyan. "When I first heard the news, it was incredible. I knew he was ill, but I had no idea it was so serious. He'd been fond of wearing a top hat in recent years and was a true Shanghai gentleman—dignified, upright, talented, warm-hearted, and helpful. He was also outspoken, frequently criticizing people and society, both in his circle of friends and in real life. Actually, I only learned of his hospitalization last month, and I had been thinking of visiting him after National Day when I had some free time..."
2020 Portrait of Wang Zhenkun (Gu Cunyan's painting)
Calligrapher Qian Jianguo recalled to The Paper that he, Wang Guoan, and Wang Zhenkun were all students of Xie Chunyan at Shanghai Hengfeng Middle School. Their decades-long friendship was like that of family. "I remember when Teacher Xie accepted an apprentice last month, Zhenkun called me and said he would bring him to congratulate him. His voice was very weak over the phone. I knew he had been ill for over two years. I had been wanting to visit him before National Day, but I was so busy I thought there was still a chance. I didn't expect I wouldn't be able to see him one last time. I'm so sad!"
Writer Shen Jialu said, "Brother Zhenkun and I have worked together for many years and been friends for even longer. He designed covers for several of my books and won several awards, not because of the quality of my books, but purely because of his high level of expertise and dedication in book cover design. Sadly, he didn't say goodbye to everyone. He didn't even respond to my earlier WeChat messages. I think he needed to maintain his final dignity and quiet!"
Wang Zhenkun
A true humorist
Xie Chunyan, a renowned painter in his 80s, considers Wang Zhenkun a true humorist. He once described Wang Zhenkun as the "laughing part" of their work, describing him as someone who "either kept silent or, when he did, he would burst with jokes." This sense of humor is fully reflected in his art.
Teacher and student Xie Chunyan and Wang Zhenkun
Wang Zhenkun's humor isn't superficially funny; it's an artistic expression steeped in cultural depth. His colleague, Hu Zhanfen, once recalled, "Other people wouldn't find the same story funny, but he would keep a straight face, curl his lips cynically, and everyone would laugh." This humorous quality is also fully reflected in his paintings—no matter what he's painting, "there's always a subtle smirk at the corner of his mouth."
Wang Zhenkun's artistic humor has been described as "freehand and playful," rather than the deliberate "technical" approach. He believes that the essence of comics is laughter, and that "many truths are told within jokes."
His "Urban Whispers" expresses "magical thinking about the Magic City - Shanghai in the process of urban modernization" through humorous visual language, triggering people's deep reflection on urban life in laughter.
Wang Zhenkun smiling
Lü Jiren, a renowned American painter currently in New York, said, "I was shocked to learn of Zhenkun's passing. It was like a bolt from the blue. A dear friend and such a kind man has passed away! A few years ago, when I was 'shot while lying down,' Zhenkun made a special overseas call to show his concern, comfort, and sympathy. It was truly touching! Only when your house is on fire do you discover your true friends. I will never forget you, brother Zhenkun, the cheerful, humorous, skilled painter, and helpful person! Rest in peace! Rest in peace! Perhaps I can hear your laughter from heaven."