"Canggu Shuo Jin" - Wu Changshuo and the Shanghai School Art Inheritance Exhibition Appear at the Putuo District Cultural Museum Shanghai School | Art | Wu Changshuo

Next year marks the 180th anniversary of the birth of Wu Changshuo, the founder of Shanghai style painting, and a series of commemorative exhibitions will be held both domestically and internationally. On July 21st, the "Canggu Shuo Jin - Wu Changshuo and the Shanghai School Art Inheritance Exhibition" first appeared at the Putuo District Cultural Museum. This exhibition is divided into three sections: "Cang Gu Qi Si", "Fou Men Inheritance", and "Shuo Jin Hai". It showcases 124 calligraphy and painting works by Wu Changshuo and his four generations of artists, showcasing the development of Shanghai style art for over a hundred years.

Wu Changshuo, as the first generation leader of the Shanghai style art and a master of modern Chinese poetry, calligraphy, painting, and printing, has gained a wide range of knowledge in traditional Chinese culture and innovatively developed the "Wu style flowers" that are majestic, simple, imposing, and full of gold and stone charm. His calligraphy and seal carving are also unique and have a profound influence. Wu Changshuo served as the first president of the Xiling Seal Engraving Society in 1913 and was also the first Chinese modern painter to achieve international influence. In his early years, Wu Changshuo officially moved to Shanghai and became a prominent figure in the Shanghai style art world with his cultural heritage of "ancient and modern".

Wu Changshuo, Buddha Hand Diagram Axis

"Canggu Qisi" is an overall evaluation of Wu Changshuo's artistic style. This section presents 8 authentic works of Wu Changshuo, which have been cherished by descendants of his family for many years and are rarely seen in daily life. At the same time, Wu Changshuo's famous seal "Gui Ren Li Min" is also on display. Gui Ren Li is the residence of his Anji hometown, and he expresses his homesickness through this seal. At the opening ceremony, Wu Chao, the great grandson of Wu Changshuo and the chairman of the Shanghai Wu Changshuo Cultural and Art Foundation, as well as the inheritor of Wu Changshuo's stone drum script intangible cultural heritage, showcased the exhibition name "Canggu Shuo Jin" personally inscribed, and stamped it with his great grandfather's seal "Gui Ren Li Min" on the inscription. He also presented this work to the Putuo District Cultural and Tourism Bureau.

Chapter of "Returning to Renli People"

The "Foumen Inheritance" section tells the story of Wu Changshuo's century long journey of inheriting Foumen art. Among Wu Changshuo's nicknames, the most related to the character "Fou" are Old Fou, Fou Lu, Fou Daoren, and so on. Fou is a practical and unassuming wine container that fits well with Wu Changshuo's personality. The descendants of Foumen also inherited his artistic character, such as artists such as Chen Banding, Chen Shizeng, Pan Tianshou, Sha Menghai, Qian Shoutie, Zhulesan, Wang Geqian, and others. The inheritance of Wu Changshuo's art has been passed down for several generations among the descendants of the Wu family. Wu Dongmai, Wu Changye, Wu Youfei, Wu Chao, Wu Yue, and other four generations of the Fou Sect have passed down their artistic achievements.

Wu Changshuo, Mo He

The "Shuo Jin Hai Hai" section is based on Wu Changshuo's inference of the overall Shanghai style painting. In modern times, at the beginning of the development of Shanghai style art, there were over 700 painters. After several generations of development, Shanghai style art has flourished. "Shuo Jin Hai Hai" showcases the splendid and diverse appearance of today's Shanghai style art. Lin Ximing, Chen Jialing, Yang Zhengxin, Hu Kao, Tong Yanfang, Cheng Duoduo, Liu Chan, Che Pengfei, Zhang Weisheng, Ding Shenyang, Ding Xiaofang, Chen Qi, Wang Jiafang, He Baiming, Li Gong, and other groups of sea art masters show how the diverse forms of Shanghai style art together construct the aesthetic character of this city.

Wu Changshuo, seal script eight character couplet

Curator Hu Xiaomang stated that the Fou Gate has been passed down through generations and has a wide influence. "By showcasing the efforts of several generations of Fou Gate inheritors and the heights achieved by today's Shanghai style painting art, we aim to help more people understand the origin, inheritance, pursuit, and glory of Shanghai style art."

Zhang Ji, the fourth generation descendant of Wu Changshuo's art, believes that the Fou Gate art created by Wu Changshuo pursues antiquity and uniqueness, with a strong atmosphere of gold and stone. "Classics need to be inherited. As the inheritor of a great master, it is even more important to not only inherit Wu Changshuo's profound cultural heritage, but also integrate a painting style that suits one's own personality and temperament. In terms of artistic realm, we should pursue the essence of 'legacy', constantly innovate, and let the century old branches bloom with new flowers."

Painter Zhang Ji participated in the exhibition with works such as "Hua Yun Tian Cheng"

"The invitation to showcase the masterpieces of Shanghai style art, represented by Wu Changshuo, at the doorstep of residents' homes this time is to keep in mind the artistic pursuit and common people's spirit advocated by the seal 'Returning to Renli People', and truly bring elegant art into public life." said Zhou Hanyan, Director of the Putuo District Bureau of Culture and Tourism.

Wu Chao revealed that a series of major exhibitions will be held at home and abroad next year to commemorate the 180th anniversary of Wu Changshuo's birth, especially overseas exhibitions, which have already been fully booked for the entire year of next year. He said that there are touring exhibitions in cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuyama in Japan, and plans are also to hold exhibitions in Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. The exhibition venues include world-class cultural landmarks such as the Tokyo National Museum and the Sydney Opera House. "The cultural event to be held at the Sydney Opera House in August next year will be broadcast live to 31 countries around the world, and the artistic charm of the Shanghai style represented by Mr. Wu Changshuo will be spread to the world."

The "Canggu Shuo Jin - Wu Changshuo and the Inheritance Exhibition of Shanghai Style Art" is jointly organized by the Shanghai Association for Foreign Cultural Exchange, Wu Changshuo Cultural and Art Foundation, and Putuo District Cultural and Tourism Bureau, and will continue until August 21st.