Nanjing University Hosts ‘Jinling Senior Sages Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition – The Era of CUHK Opened by Wang Boxan
On May 8, 2024, the “Jinling Elderly Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition—The Important Era Opened by Wang Boxan” opened at the Art Museum of Nanjing University School of Art. This exhibition is co-sponsored by the School of Arts of Nanjing University, the Jiangsu Provincial Calligraphers Association, and the Nantang Painting Academy. Professor Huang Zhengming of the School of Arts of Nanjing University is the chief planner, and national first-class artists and traditional Chinese crafts masters Yao Jiangjin and Zhao Yizhou are art consultants. .
Zhang Jiuhan, former deputy governor of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Li Jinquan, deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, Zou Yajun, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Nanjing University, Zhu Yimin, vice chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Democratic Progressive Party, famous calligraphers, painters, theorists, connoisseurs, Nanjing University Part-time professor Xiao Ping, famous calligrapher, calligraphy theorist and professor of Nanjing University of the Arts Huang Dun, former deputy director of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee Zhou Heping, famous calligrapher, painter and cultural relic connoisseur Xu Chunyuan, Tao Yong, second-level inspector of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee , Chen Yuefei of the Jiangsu Provincial Government, Ren Ren, Vice President of the Jiangsu Provincial Regional Cooperation and Exchange Association, Xu Weiming, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Nanjing Normal University and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, etc. attended the opening ceremony. More than 100 people, including members of the party and government team of the School of Arts of Nanjing University, representatives of teachers and students of Nanjing University, and calligraphers and painters from outside the school, attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Huang Zhengming.
This exhibition displays nearly 100 works by more than 40 CUHK seniors in modern times. Among them are Wang Bohan, a master of modern Chinese studies, a professor at CUHK, and a generation of Confucian scholars; Xiao Junxian, a landscape master of the “North and South Xiao”; Luo Jialun, the former president of Central University; Liu Yizheng, the founder of Chinese cultural studies, a pioneer in modern Chinese history, and a master of modern Confucianism; Wang Dongpei and Zhang Tongzhi, the masters of literature and history in Jinling, Li Qingxu, the founder of Nanjing No. 1 Middle School, Shen Zishan, the “second sinker in the southern calligraphy world”, Li Jianchen, the “father of watercolor painting”, Tang Guizhang, the master of poetry, Wu Baitao, the drama master, Cheng Qianfan, the literary and historical master, etc. There are also poet Su Changliao who became world-famous in the 1980s for his short and long verses written by Wang Guowei, as well as a large number of outstanding painters such as Zhao Lianghan, Zhang Zhengyin, Hu Guoren and Yang Jianhou. There are also several more special works in the exhibition: the calligraphy of Wang Boxang’s father Wang Jie, the calligraphy of Wang Boxang’s teacher Duan Mucai, and the 7-meter calligraphy scroll by the outstanding museologist Zeng Zhaoyu.
As a master in the field of calligraphy and painting appreciation and collection, Mr. Xiao Ping adheres to the four-pronged approach of calligraphy, painting, appraisal and historical writing in his creation and research. In his speech at the opening ceremony, he pointed out that as an outstanding figure in the world of modern Chinese calligraphy and painting, Mr. Wang Boxan’s artistic achievements and academic contributions not only had a profound impact at the time, but still have important research value and practical significance today. This exhibition aims to comprehensively display Mr. Wang Boxan’s artistic career. At the same time, through his works and life stories, the audience will be led into the historical period jointly started by him and many colleagues, and feel the artistic atmosphere and cultural trends of that era.
Huang Dun said in his speech that it is of great significance for this exhibition to be successfully held at a time when Nanjing University is about to celebrate its 122nd anniversary. The exhibition focuses on the outstanding works of more than 40 senior scholars from NTU’s predecessor, Central University. Although their calligraphy and paintings have their own characteristics, they all have one common feature – literary style and bookish style, which are the origins of calligraphy art. The aesthetic taste that has been adhered to since ancient times is not “wild”, but “elegant”, not “vulgar”, but “literary”. “Elegance” is the popularity of literati and the soul of literati paintings.
Zou Yajun said in his speech that culture is the soul of a country and a nation, and calligraphy and painting, as an important part of China’s excellent traditional culture, carry the long history and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Nanjing University has always attached great importance to traditional culture, especially calligraphy and painting. Regarding the protection and inheritance of culture, this exhibition coincides with Nanjing University’s “Cultural Integration Month”, which is of great significance and fruitful results.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Yao Jiangjin donated calligraphy works to the School of Arts of Nanjing University. Dean He Chengzhou and Secretary Shi Hongmei of the School of Arts of Nanjing University accepted the donation and issued a collection certificate to Mr. Yao Jiangjin.
This exhibition will be held from May 8 to May 14, 2024, and will be located at the Art Museum of Nanjing University School of Art, East Building, Gulou Campus, Nanjing University.