Zhi Shui Ren Shan: Special Exhibition of Chinese Landscape Masterpieces from Modern Chinese Artists
2025.1.21-2025.3.2
LONG MUSEUM WEST BUND
Zhi Shui Ren Shan: Special Exhibition of Chinese Landscape Masterpieces from Modern Chinese Artists
2025.1.21-2025.3.2
LONG MUSEUM WEST BUND
“The wise delight in water, the virtuous find peace in mountains.” --The Analects · Yong Ye
Mountains and forests sustain all life, while rivers and seas flow endlessly. For the ancients, nature was a mirror of their own character and aspirations. Immersing themselves in landscapes became a way for scholars to harmonize with the universe and nurture both body and mind. Over centuries, landscape painting emerged as a profound expression of traditional Chinese culture, continually evolving by embracing tradition while forging new paths into the future.
Since the 20th century, amidst sweeping social transformations, Chinese landscape painting has undergone profound transitions and breakthroughs. Generations of renowned artists have emerged, seamlessly blending past and present, East and West. Some drew inspiration from the timeless masterpieces of the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, learning from nature and reinterpreting tradition to create works that resonate in a modern era. Others sought to incorporate Western techniques of realism and observation into Chinese painting, reimagining the art of ink for a new age. Through the currents of change, each generation of painters has pushed the boundaries of expression, discovering new forms of artistic expression.
This exhibition features over 40 landscape works (including sets) by more than 30 of the most influential Chinese painters of the 20th century, including Pu Hua, Zhang Daqian, Wu Hufan, He Tianjian, Zheng Wuchang, Tao Lengyue, Pan Tianshou, Huang Binhong, Pu Ru, Lu Yanshao, Fu Baoshi, Xie Zhiliu, Ying Yeping, Liu Danzai, Qian Songyan, Zhao Wangyun, Li Keran, Liu Haisu, Lin Fengmian, Lai Shaoqi, Zhu Qizhan, Huang Junbi,Huang Qiuyuan, and Bai Xueshi. The exhibition is divided into three sections: “Nature as Our Teacher,” “Magnificent Rivers and Mountains,” and “The Evolution of Brush and Ink Aesthetics.” Together, these works offer a glimpse into the development of Chinese landscape painting during the 20th century and reflect the artists’ enduring passion and dedication to landscape art.