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On May 28, 2026, the opening ceremony of ‘Galloping Ahead, Radiant Steeds in Guangming — Lu Yi’s Year of the Horse Artistic Special Exhibition’ was grandly held at Yue Zai Ting, Hongqiao Park, Guangming District, Shenzhen.
This special art exhibition features the steed as its core creative theme. The works of artist Lu Yi deeply inherit the spiritual essence of the steeds depicted by the great master of Chinese painting, Xu Beihong, integrating the dragon-horse spirit—characterized by unremitting self-improvement, uplifting vitality, and the drive to strive forward—into his brushwork and composition. At the same time, Lu Yi boldly innovates by incorporating his own artistic reflections and contemporary aesthetic perspectives, endowing his works with fresh expressions atop traditional artistic paradigms. This allows the classic horse culture to radiate unique charm in a new era, achieving a perfect fusion of traditional essence and modern art.
Zhang Wenchang, Director of the Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center, stated at the opening ceremony that the horses depicted by Mr. Xu Beihong possess both the rigorous precision of Western plastic arts and the expressive charm and artistic conception of Chinese freehand painting. At their core lies a spirit of ‘uplifting vitality’ — a profound longing for national rejuvenation harbored by intellectuals during times of national crisis, embodying an unyielding national character that never gives up and strives to lead. This spirit remains vibrant today, having long transcended the artistic subject itself to become a symbol of cultural confidence and a striving posture. This special exhibition serves as a vivid practice in inheriting the spirit of Beihong and promoting Chinese aesthetic education.
The launch of ‘Galloping Ahead, Radiant Steeds in Guangming — Lu Yi’s Year of the Horse Artistic Special Exhibition’ at Hongqiao Park in Guangming is not only a splendid artistic presentation but also a vivid practice of Guangming District’s efforts to promote culture-for-the-people and integrate culture with tourism. Looking ahead, Guangming District will continue to leverage its ecological spaces and cultural tourism resources to introduce more high-quality cultural and artistic events, empowering urban development through culture and continuously meeting the diverse spiritual and cultural needs of the public. The exhibition will run until the end of June. Citizens and art enthusiasts are warmly welcome to visit Yue Zai Ting at Hongqiao Park to experience the contemporary power of the dragon-horse spirit at the intersection of nature and art.
As a landmark ecological and cultural tourism destination in Guangming District, Hongqiao Park has introduced this horse-themed art special exhibition, which organically integrates natural ecology with humanistic art. This not only enriches the district’s public cultural offerings and enhances the city’s cultural taste but also allows citizens to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, as well as the contemporary power of the steed spirit, up close while strolling through the park and connecting with nature.
Since its establishment in Shenzhen in 2021, the Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center has been consistently dedicated to the dissemination and promotion of the Beihong spirit throughout Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area. Actively practicing the aesthetic education philosophy of ‘appreciating the master’s classics and learning from the master’s example,’ the Center has successively launched a variety of diverse projects, including the Xu Beihong Cup Art Competition, aesthetic education programs on campus, the Aesthetic Education Living Studio, Xu Beihong cultural art spaces, and symphony performances that integrate Xu Beihong’s art with music. By embedding traditional painting art and the Beihong spirit into various scenes of social life, the Center has promoted aesthetic education into communities, schools, industrial parks, and enterprises, bringing the beauty of outstanding traditional Chinese culture and art to the general public.
Xu Beihong’s life was deeply intertwined with the fate and rise of his nation. He embodied great patriotism, selfless dedication, relentless artistic innovation, and a keen eye for nurturing talent. His legacy reflects an unwavering spirit of independence, moral integrity, and enduring inspiration. (Engraved in the central hall of the Beijing Xu Beihong Memorial Hall)
Xu Beihong was a leading Chinese artist and art educator, known as the “Father of Modern Chinese Painting.” He was the first president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and chairman of the China Artists Association. His works, including Tian Heng and His Five Hundred Followers 《田横五百士》, Waiting for the Deliverer 《徯我后》, and The Foolish Old Man Removes the Mountains 《愚公移山》, laid the foundation for modern Chinese oil painting with their unique blend of Chinese style and Western technique.
He believed art should reflect real life and combined Chinese traditions with Western methods to create a new, influential style. Xu Beihong not only produced many masterpieces but also trained a generation of outstanding artists, shaping China’s modern art education system. His efforts promoted Chinese art worldwide, leaving a lasting legacy.