From Carpenter to Master: The Painting of Qi Baishi

Exhibition introduction:

Qi Baishi (1864 — 1957), formerly known as Chunzhi with the style-name of Weiqing and alternative name of Lanting, later changed his name to Huang with the alternative names of Binsheng and Baishi. He was also known as Xingziwu Laomin (Old Man of Apricot Cove), Jieshanyinguan Zhuzhe (Owner of the Hall of Borrowing Mountain Views), Sanbai Shiyin Fuweng (Rich Man with Three Hundred Stone Seals) and so on. Qi Baishi came from humble beginnings, self-taught in painting during his early years as a woodcarver, and at the age of 27, he formally studied painting under a master. Through his travels and creative endeavors, known as “five departures and five returns,” and settling in the capital city, he underwent a transformation in his later years, ultimately becoming a master of traditional Chinese painting.He always maintained the self-confidence, independence and creativity of an artist throughout his life, and persevered in the artistic path of “painting my own paintings”. Qi Baishi excelled in poetry, calligraphy, painting and seal carving, with painting standing out as his most representative and accomplished art form. It not only expands the new space for the development of literati painting, but also brings the “highbrow” Chinese painting art to the public. This exhibition selects more than 60 pieces of Qi Baishi’s fine paintings, including flower-and-bird, landscape and figure paintings and covering all stages of his early, middle and late career, in the hope that the audience can understand the evolution of Qi Baishi’s painting style and feel the independent and charming art world of Qi Baishi.

Introduction about the institution:

As the largest history and art museum in Hunan province, the Hunan Museum covers an area of 49,000㎡, with the building area reaching 91,000㎡. It is one of the first batch of national first-level museums and one of the first eight national museums co-funded by central and local governments.

For several decades, the museum as a cultural landmark in Changsha city, has attracted millions of visitors. It not only presents the Chinese civilization along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River but also serves as a unique window for people to understand the development of the civilization in Hunan province as well as to appreciate the mysteries of Hunan culture.

With a history over half a century, the Hunan Museum has made remarkable achievements in exhibitions, social education, public services, development and innovation of cultural and creative products, operations and management. It has become one of the most influential museums in China and one of the most advanced museums in the international arena.