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On January 30, 2026, the Russia-China Friendship Association, in collaboration with the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the World Calligraphy Museum, organized an event titled “The Horse in Chinese Fine Arts” to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the birth of Chinese painting master Xu Beihong.
The event attracted numerous guests, including scholars, students, journalists, staff from the Chinese Embassy in Russia, artists, and calligraphers.
Among the distinguished attendees were:
Aleksey Khalyutkin: Deputy Director of the World Calligraphy Museum.
All participants unanimously acknowledged that Xu Beihong made outstanding contributions to the development of contemporary Chinese painting and exerted a profound influence on the preservation and popularization of Chinese culture and arts.
During the event, guests shared their impressions of the renowned artist’s works, life story, artistic career, and his invaluable artistic legacy.
One of the highlights of the event was the address delivered by Mr. Zhang Wenchang, Director of the Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center, which was read aloud on-site by Galina Kulikova.
It is widely recognized that Xu Beihong (1895-1953) was one of the earliest Chinese artists in the 20th century to integrate the traditions of Chinese national art with the distinctive techniques of European painting. While his artistic repertoire was broad and diverse in subject matter, his masterful depiction of horses became his signature style.
Video of the address delivered by Galina Kulikova on-site.
Ms. Kulikova is one of the most renowned sinologists in contemporary Russia. Since April 2003, she has been conducting research at the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and also serves as the First Vice President of the Russian-China Friendship Association. Ms. Kulikova has received numerous national and international awards, including the Order of Friendship of China, the highest honor conferred by the People’s Republic of China on foreigners. In 2019, President Xi Jinping personally awarded Ms. Kulikova the Order of Friendship of China.
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.