In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the National Art Museum of China, the theme exhibition "Ink Splendor and Cultural Context" has made its debut with a fresh collection of exhibits, following two previous exhibitions. The "Ink Splendor and Cultural Context: Selected Masterpieces of Ancient Paintings from Jilin Provincial Museum" was recently unveiled at the National Art Museum of China, featuring over 90 carefully chosen pieces from the museum's collection of ancient paintings. Visitors can experience the grandeur of landscapes, the vivid portrayal of figures, the lushness of flowers and trees, and the joy of birds and animals, gaining insights into the artistic expressions of different periods and styles of ancient Chinese painting.
The exhibition is divided into two phases.
Inside the exhibition hall, "Scroll of Wenji Returning to Han" drew a crowd. After research by Guo Moruo, the work was attributed to the Jin Dynasty painter Zhang Yu, depicting the scene of Cai Wenji, a woman from the Eastern Han Dynasty, returning to Han territory. The painting features 12 figures, including a Hu-style official leading the way on horseback with a flag, Cai Wenji in splendid Hu attire riding a spirited horse in the middle, two people holding the reins in front of the horse, officials escorting behind, and accompanying animals such as hunting dogs, a foal, and a falcon. Although lacking a background, the combination of reality and illusion portrays the enormity of the sandstorm and the challenges of the journey through the depiction of characters shielding themselves from the wind and cold. The determined expression of Cai Wenji conveys her resolute belief in returning to Han territory.
Inspired by Tao Yuanming's "Going Home," the Yuan Dynasty artist He Cheng created "Scroll of Returning to the Village ", another heavyweight exhibit in the show. The artist skillfully uses the repetition of the main characters to present several scenes from the poet's life after returning to his village. Trees, rocks, and houses cleverly divide and naturally connect each scene, expressing the poet's sentimental feelings towards pastoral landscapes. The scroll is accompanied by the running script "Going Home and Expressing Feelings" by Zhang Zhongshou and inscriptions by dozens of Yuan artists including Yao Xi, Zhao Mengfu, and Deng Wenyuan. Renowned art historian Xue Yongnian commented that this painting not only reflects the inheritance and evolution of Northern painting in the early Yuan Dynasty before Zhao Mengfu but is also a significant work for studying the evolution of Chinese painting techniques from "water and ink" to "dry brush and rubbing."
In addition, the "Scroll of Li Gonglin Nine Songs Picture" on display in the exhibition takes Qu Yuan's "Nine Songs" as the theme. It is a representative work that reflects Zhang Wo's artistic achievements and is regarded as a masterpiece of figure painting in the Yuan Dynasty. The exhibition also displays Shen Zhou's "Scroll of Loquat" of the Ming Dynasty, Wen Zhengming's "Scroll of Visiting Friends in Autumn", Xu Wei's "Shuangqing Scroll", Dong Qichang's "Scroll of Qianjiang Landscape", Wu Bin's "Scroll of Tang Poetry", Lan Ying's "Scroll of Qiao Yue in the Year of the Pine", as well as the Qing Dynasty Kun Can's "Scroll of Hospitality in the Cold Forest", Yun Shouping's "Scroll of Fish and Algae", Shi Tao's "Scroll of Wutong, Pine and Stone", Wang Yuanqi's "Scroll of Lotus Pavilion and Willow Bank" and other famous works.
Wu Weishan, the director of the National Art Museum of China, expressed that this exhibition is co-hosted with the Jilin Provincial Museum, representing an exploration of a beneficial new paradigm for cooperation between museums and art galleries in the new era. It actively promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of China's outstanding traditional culture, aiming to present the traditional treasures of the past millennium and allow the audience to appreciate the humanistic feelings and artistic charm within. Han Lijun, the director of the Jilin Provincial Museum, mentioned that the museum's collection of calligraphy and painting is extensive and magnificent, with over ten thousand pieces. The exhibition showcases more than 90 pieces of ancient calligraphy and painting, intending to bring cultural relics to life and benefit a wider audience. The exhibition will run until March 1, 2024, and a new exhibition will be introduced in mid-January, featuring heavyweight exhibits such as Yang Jieyu's "Scroll of Hundred Flowers" from the Southern Song Dynasty.
Translator: BAI Jing
Editor: ZHOU Huilin
