The enigma of ink
Exhibition showcases understated elegance and transcendental qualities with muted shades of color and a minimalist depiction of subjects, Lin Qi reports.
An exhibition of works by a renowned ink artist and his three mentors drew people to the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy at the end of the Golden Week holiday. Despite living in different eras, all four artists embraced a revolutionary spirit that has left a long-lasting influence on Chinese art history.
The spotlight of the exhibition was Qi Baishi (1864-1957), an eminent figure of modern ink art, and his three renowned "teachers": Xu Wei of the 16th century, Zhu Da (1626-1705) — better known by the pseudonym Bada Shanren — and Wu Changshuo (1844-1927). Works by the four painters were brought together from various museums across the country at the exhibition Brushstrokes Across Centuries, which is on show at the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy until Dec 5.
