A transcendent retreat at two exhibitions at He Xiangning Art Museum

Under the glow of the exhibition hall lights, elegant landscape paintings gleam alongside mirrors. Calligraphic works, meanwhile, radiate calmness and lasting grace. Painting and calligraphy enthusiasts shouldn’t miss two new exhibitions at He Xiangning Art Museum, where visitors can also practice calligraphy in the fragrant scent of ink.

Visitors practice calligraphy at He Xiangning Art Museum. Photo by Cao Zhen

‘Beyond the Mundane’

“Beyond the Mundane” explores the evolution of 20th-century Chinese landscape painting. It features 48 paintings by 20 masters, including Li Keran, Ye Qianyu, Jiang Zhaohe, Guan Shanyue, Wu Zuoren, and Wu Guanzhong. The works show how artists seek refuge in nature — pursuing a spiritual dwelling beyond the ordinary, grounded world.

Displayed in five sections — Spring, Night, Snow, Clouds, and Trees — the exhibition uses a distinctive presentation, enhanced by mirrors and carefully designed lighting effects, to create an atmosphere of transcendent ease.

Elegant landscape paintings gleam alongside mirrors at the “Beyond the Mundane” exhibition. Photos courtesy of the organizers unless otherwise stated

According to the curatorial statement, the 20th century saw transformative changes as traditional Chinese “mountain-and-water” landscape painting encountered Western landscape art. 

By blending Chinese and Western styles and techniques, Chinese artists created landscapes that convey both personal spiritual repose and a broader sense of national character — while also exploring new aesthetic possibilities.

As you move through the exhibition halls, you may feel a quiet sense of detachment and a deeper encounter with the enduring lineage of Chinese traditional culture in its modern form. 

From the vibrant promise of spring to the fusion of figurative and impressionistic freehand in depictions of snow, trees, and mist, and onward to the subtle handling of nocturnal scenes — these landscapes, rich with Chinese sensibility, offer a distinct cultural response in both technique and subject matter.

A painting created by Li Keran in 1957.

‘The Harmony of Aesthetics’

This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of national rejuvenation and a forerunner of China’s democratic revolution. As Sun’s close friends, Liao Zhongkai and He Xiangning devoted their lives to the nation and its people, leaving behind lasting legacies of paintings and poems that embody resilience and integrity.

“The Harmony of Aesthetics” brings together art museum professionals nationwide to create calligraphic works based on poems by He and Liao. By reflecting on history, it honors the revolutionary couple, whose steadfast commitment defined their service to the country.

A visitor admires calligraphic works at “The Harmony of Aesthetics.”

Some artists draw on the spirit of Wang Xizhi (303-361), balancing dignified elegance with smooth, flowing grace. Others take inspiration from monumental steles and ancient tablets, pursuing a realm of plain, unadorned simplicity. Visitors can also pick up a brush to practice calligraphy themselves, experiencing firsthand the charm of ink and brushwork.

Painting exhibition: Until May 31

Calligraphy exhibition: Until April 23 

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mondays

Venue: He Xiangning Art Museum, Nanshan District (何香凝美术馆)

Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit C