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From formally beginning his artistic training under his father at age nine, to becoming a renowned painter in his hometown of Yixing by seventeen, Xu Beihong’s early promise developed rapidly. By twenty-three, he was already a mentor at the “Peking University Painting Method Research Society.” At twenty-four, he gained admission to the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he immersed himself in the study of Western art. During this time, he also held a solo exhibition, actively promoting Chinese art and opening an artistic window for cultural exchange between East and West. In times of national crisis, Xu Beihong wielded his brush as a weapon, giving powerful expression to his resilient spirit and profound patriotism amidst the turmoil of war.
In his subsequent enduring commitment to art education, Xu Beihong served as a distinguished mentor. He was instrumental in appointing Qi Baishi as a professor and profoundly influenced painters such as Wu Zuoren, Fu Baoshi, and Liu Boshu. Upon his death in 1953, in a remarkable act of cultural patriotism, his wife Liao Jingwen fulfilled his behest by donating his life’s work to the state: some 1,200 of his own creations, his collection of 1,200 other artworks, and over 10,000 items of books, albums, and rubbings.
The gallery offers an immersive journey through Xu Beihong’s legendary life, complemented by a carefully curated display of his most important paintings and selected works from his private collection.
…featuring a variety of creative styles such as traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, watercolor, sketch, as well as calligraphy.
Among the collection are such classic works as “Galloping Horse《奔马》”, “The Herd《群奔》” and “Tian Heng and His Five Hundred Followers《田横五百士》”.
Xu Beihong advocated for the use of light and modeling, grounded in a precise grasp of anatomy and skeletal structure. He also stressed the importance of conveying intellectual concepts through art. His principles greatly impacted the contemporary Chinese art world. Alongside Zhang Shuqi and Liu Zigu, he was hailed as one of the “Three Masters of Jinling.” His Chinese paintings achieved a perfect harmony of ink and color, earning him enduring fame for his powerful depictions of galloping horses.
“The Herd《群奔》” is considered a culminating masterpiece of Xu Beihong’s equine art. Viewing his horse paintings, one always feels the animals could leap off the page at any moment. Created in 1942 during the most mature and stable period of his career, this work defied tradition. He laid in the massive forms of the horses with broad strokes of grey and black, defined the powerful yet graceful limbs with a few decisive lines, detailed the features with dense ink, and finally swept out the tails and manes with scorched ink, achieving a vivid image through bold and fluent brushwork.
“Tian Heng and His Five Hundred Followers《田横五百士》” draws its subject from the Records of the Grand Historian. From 1928 to 1930, Xu Beihong devoted three years to completing this monumental composition. The work depicts the poignant moment of Tian Heng’s farewell to his five hundred loyal followers. The figures of men, women, and children in the painting are arranged to create a solemn and stirring rhythm. A sense of latent action is masterfully contained within the static scene, converging into a powerful aura of heroism.
The exhibition hall interior is designed in a modern minimalist style and showcases a diverse range of areas. These include The Youth Entrepreneurship Park Group’s “Time Tunnel,” Features of its incubator operations, Corporate sci-tech innovation achievements, The Party-Mass Service Center, and The Youth Entrepreneurship Business School.
It offers visitors an art and technology experience area that is rich in cultural heritage yet vibrant with a modern aesthetic. While gaining insight into youth innovation culture, guests are treated to an unforgettable artistic journey. This initiative aims to create a comprehensive new space for art education and social interaction, seamlessly integrating multiple functions.
With its refined Chinese interior design, the space guides visitors into a world of classical elegance. Shelves of timeless literary works evoke the feeling of an ancient scholarly gathering, creating a seamless fusion of literary charm and natural tranquility.
This cross-sector collaboration stands as a perfect embodiment of the convergence between these two fields. By integrating traditional culture into the very fabric of the park, it ignites new sparks for the digital industry within the realm of art. This vision achieves a true symbiosis of culture and technology, making the beauty of art accessible to all. It is also the tangible reality of Xu Beihong’s aesthetic education philosophy stepping into everyday life and entering the public view.
