The famous Chinese painter, art educator Jiang Zhaohe (1904-1986), was one of the pioneers and founders of modern Chinese ink figure painting in the 20th Century. He spent all his life making an extraordinary effort in the development of modern ink figure painting. Jiang Zhaohe had innovated techniques, greatly enriching the expressive force of Chinese figure painting. His aesthetic interest changed to realistic care of society and life from the traditional literati’s aesthetic temperament and interest, he practiced with the idea of “drawing portraits for people” all through his life, he made Chinese figure painting into a human art shared by the general public. He had created a series of masterpieces which reflected reality, becoming the witness of the changes of Chinese historical transitions during the past one hundred years.

Jiang Zhaohe and Xu Beihong were like a continuous line, and because they were both the founders and pioneers of Chinese ink figure painting, it was called the “Jiang Zhaohe and Xu Beihong’s System”, with a far-reaching influence. Because Jiang Zhaohe revised the view of painting of Xu Beihong’s “Drawing is the foundation for all plastic arts”, paying attention to the infiltration and integration of the factors of traditional Chinese painting, he stood on the pinnacle of the painting world in the 20th Century.

His masterpiece “The Refugees Figure” with the comprehensive use of the ink painting technique and in-depth features that portrayed the characters so they had a typical literature-oriented meaning and tragic epic temperament. But the painting had the same fate as Jiang Zhaohe who later suffered an encounter, as it was forbidden after only one showing, in addition, it experienced a disorderly exhibiting schedule, drifting from place to place including turbulence during the cultural revolution, only less than half of the work and several manuscripts are kept, among these, 6 manuscripts are on show at Wuhan Art Museum in the exhibition.

It exhibits a total of more than 50 works, including sculptures, hand scrolls of Chinese calligraphy, drawings, works of Chinese ink figure painting, as well as documents, photos and original catalogs, etc. It starts from a long scroll of Chinese calligraphy created by Jiang Zhaohe in 1956, which is as long as 19 meters, covered with more than 10,000 words, such a work accomplished in one breath is regarded as the only one in the artistic creation of the artist. The entire exhibition starts from the long scroll, where the work and the viewpoints in the text mutually confirm each other. It is entitled “My Way”, centered on the long scroll, to showcase Chinese ink paintings by Jiang Zhaohe and the related research documents. It aims at combing through an effective path for the audience and scholars to understand Jiang Zhaohe’s art and the art of Chinese figure painting in the 20th Century.

Since its opening, Wuhan Art Museum has presented many masters’ exhibitions, such as “Self-Contented by Natural Mystery: Artistic Conception under Qi Baishi’s Brush” Special Exhibition for Qi Baishi’s Works in the Collections of Beijing Fine Art Academy, “Liu Haisu Art Exhibition”, “Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution” He Xiangning Art Exhibition, etc. Through the holding of the “My Way” Academic Exhibition of Jiang Zhaohe Painting Art, Wuhan Art Museum combs through and displays the selected works in different creative periods of Jiang Zhaohe, to restore a more realistic art master for the audience.

About the exhibition

Duration: July 4 – August 23, 2015

Opening Time: July 9, 2015

Venue: Wuhan Art Museum

Organizer: Wuhan Art Museum

Curator: Wu Hongliang

Courtesy of the artist and Wuhan Art Museum, for further information please visit www.wuhanam.com.