Exhibition honors one of China's key 20th-century talents

It was during his later years when Wu achieved his most significant breakthrough as an artist, Wang believes.

"His calligraphy was inspired by the inscriptions on ancient rock drums, bronze cauldrons and rock steles in the Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Jin (265-420) dynasties," Wang says. "His later works were even bolder, sharper and more magnificent — he integrated classical calligraphic strokes into his paintings and developed a distinctive style deriving from traditional techniques fused with the refined literati aesthetics and values for righteousness and inner strength.

"Wu brought out an unprecedented new look in Chinese ink art and his style continues to have wide and enduring impact today."

Wu traveled extensively in the Yangtze Delta region as a young man, learning calligraphy and seal engraving while building a strong network with fellow artists and intellectuals.

He played a leading role in Shanghai's art community, serving as the founding director of the Xiling Yin She, or Xiling Seals Society. As the head of a number of artistic groups, he led art sales for charity fundraising, compiled poetry collections and played an active role in the establishment of an operative art market.

In 2024, several exhibitions and events at home and abroad celebrated his life and art. The ongoing exhibition at the China Art Museum, Shanghai, is the largest and most comprehensive, displaying 140 of his original artworks along with about 40 works by his friends, students and contemporaries.

Among the exhibits is a painting of peony blossoms created during his brief stay in Shanghai's Pudong area.