The Tsinghua University Art Museum houses around 80 calligraphy and painting works by Qi Baishi, many of which have never been publicly exhibited. This year marks the 160th anniversary of Qi Baishi's birth (1864-1957), and we have planned an exhibition to honor his legacy based on the museum's collection. This topic has been on the mind for the past two years.
Qi Baishi is a renowned painter, and while a conventional display of his artworks would be expected and easily achievable, I wanted to create an exhibition that breaks the mold, which is more captivating, and appeals to younger audiences. Dr. Liu Muwei, a young curator, courageously accepted the challenge. During the curatorial process, he drew a connection between Qi Baishi and Huang Yongyu (1924-2023), another celebrated artist from Hunan Province who was celebrating his centenary at the time. Despite the significant differences in their respective eras, life experiences, philosophical perspectives, and artistic styles, both artists are highly respected and widely loved. Notably, they have both created a wealth of vibrant and intriguing artworks centered around animal themes. Thus, the exhibition "Germination" focuses precisely on this theme, bringing together Qi Baishi and Huang Yongyu.
Animals have been a timeless subject in art, transcending both Eastern and Western cultures. The earliest recorded human paintings in the world art history originate from the Upper Paleolithic period, specifically cave paintings found in the southern region of France and the northern region of Spain, dating back 15,000 to 30,000 years ago. These captivating artworks predominantly feature lifelike animal imagery. Animals have always played a significant role in the evolution of human civilization. Throughout the extensive course of human cultural development, certain animals have been domesticated and become close companions, while others have been mythologized, embodying the mysterious forces worshipped in ancient beliefs. Some animals have been endowed with symbolic meanings and have become integrated into various aspects of human culture, including astronomy, language, religion, and politics. These animal symbols continue to influence our present lives, such as constellations and zodiac signs.
Animal themes have a pervasive and enduring presence across various art forms. To fully explore the concept of germination within our collection, we have carefully selected over a hundred intriguing artifacts related to animal themes from diverse categories, including paintings, textiles, ceramics, and miscellaneous crafts, spanning from ancient times to the contemporary era. As a result, the exhibition was rich and diverse. After establishing the exhibition's basic framework, the curator proactively incorporated the works of contemporary artists to complement the thematic sections and presentation formats. In addition to the prominent figures of Qi Baishi and Huang Yongyu, visitors will have the opportunity to appreciate artworks by 20 ancient and modern art masters, such as Xu Beihong, Wu Guanzhong, Wang Mengbai, as well as works by 15 contemporary artists, including Jin Yucheng, Wei Xiaoming, Zhou Chunya, Zhao Bandi, Xu Lei, Qiu Ting, and Tai Xiangzhou. This exhibition presents a significant challenge and represents a bold endeavor. Ultimately, the exhibition draws from, but is not limited to, the museum's collection, aiming to transcend artistic boundaries and bridge the gap between the past and the present. As you visit the exhibition, it is our hope that it will inspire you to reflect on the dynamic relationship between animals and humans in fresh and thought-provoking ways.
Translator: Feng Haoxuan
Reviewer: Ding Zhizhong
