Zhao Zhiqian, Wu Changshuo, Xie Zhiliu, Zhou Huijun... 100 calligraphy masters and 100 exquisite works appeared at the Chinese Art Palace Calligraphy | Chinese Art Palace | Zhou Huijun
The "Stars of History - Modern and Contemporary Shanghai Calligraphy Exhibition" of the "What is Shanghai Style" art series exhibition at the China Art Palace opened on July 25th at the 33-meter level. The exhibition gathers 100 calligraphy masterpieces from 100 famous calligraphers, including Zhao Zhiqian, Wu Changshuo, Shen Zengzhi, Li Ruiqing, Kang Youwei, Shen Yinmo, Wu Hufan, Liu Haisu, Zhang Daqian, Sha Menghai, Pan Tianshou, Wang Yingchang, Bai Jiao, Xie Zhiliu, Hu Wensui, Zhou Huijun, etc. Many of them are first-time appearances, which helps to study the role, status, and influence of Shanghai style calligraphy in the development history of Chinese calligraphy.
The Shanghai style calligraphy, which originated from the opening of ports in Shanghai and rose in the late Qing and early Republic of China, has produced numerous masters, renowned masters, and elites, and has always been at the "core site" of modern art history. It is an important cultural achievement in the urbanization process of Shanghai. The Star of History - Modern and Contemporary Shanghai Style Calligraphy Exhibition invites Wang Qisen, a research expert in Shanghai style calligraphy and painting, as the curator to conduct intergenerational sorting, artistic analysis, academic research, and literature presentation on Shanghai style calligraphy.
This exhibition not only focuses on artistic narrative, brushstroke cognition, and theoretical exposition, but also employs interdisciplinary methods such as sociology and economics to comprehensively examine and systematically showcase Shanghai style calligraphy.
The exhibition is divided into three parts: the first part, "Overture", explains the mystery of Zhao Zhiqian as a former leader of Shanghai style calligraphy for a hundred years, and reveals that the establishment of the Yu Garden Calligraphy and Painting Association officially played the overture of the rise of Shanghai style calligraphy. The second section "The emergence of masters, the rise of groups, and the inheritance and innovation" analyzes and sorts out the member composition, artistic purpose, and style evolution of the first, second, and third generation of Shanghai style calligraphers. The third section, "Urban Effect, Social Responsibility, and Art Ecology," focuses on three aspects: "Establishing Education, Charity Societies," "Gallery Renovation, Publishing and Collection," and "External Exchange, Study Industry.". Among them are Wu Changshuo's annual polished account book "The Career of Brush and Ink" from 1914, the calligraphy schedule of Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Wu Hufan's model at the Meijing Bookstore on Songshan Road, five large-scale Chinese and Japanese calligraphy and painting exhibitions hosted by Wu Changshuo and Wang Yiting from 1920 to 1935, specialized pens customized by Li Ruiqing, Zeng Xi, Zhang Daqian, Shen Yinmo, and others at Zhou Huchen, "Copper Pillar Ink" commemorating Wu Dashu's claim that the border between China and Russia has a national dimension, and "Iron Studio Weng Calligraphy and Painting Treasure Ink" customized by Japanese calligrapher Fugang Tiezhai.
The exhibition re examines Shanghai style calligraphy within a specific historical background, urban environment, and cultural ecology, paying tribute to the predecessors of Shanghai style calligraphy in terms of brushwork and art. It also provides reference for contemporary calligraphy practice and theoretical innovation. The exhibition is hosted by the China Art Palace, Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, and Shanghai Calligraphers Association, and co organized by the Shanghai Cultural Relics Exchange Center, Shanghai Duoyunxuan Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Lu Xun Memorial Hall, and Shanghai History Museum. It will close on September 22.
