In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, Tsinghua University Art Museum is hosting The Road to Chinese Modern Art: Lin Fengmian and Wu Guanzhong Art Exhibition. The exhibition features two giants of Chinese modern art, namely Lin Fengmian and Wu Guanzhong, and is currently being held from September 10, 2024, to January 3, 2025.

Landscape

Lin Fengmian

Orchids 

 Lin Fengmian

The Forbidden City

  Wu Guanzhong

Lion Grove

Wu Guanzhong

The exhibition will be held across two floors of the exhibition hall, both the first and second floors, and will showcase over 140 selected works of Lin and Wu.

Lin, a pioneer of new modern Chinese art, was well versed in western painting and also found inspiration in the serene beauty of Eastern art, drawing inspirations from porcelain displayed in museums and other folk arts. Wu, who was a student of Lin, completed his studies in France, explored arts using expressive techniques and abstract styles, blending subjective emotions in his works.

Though their artistic paths and personalities differed, Lin and Wu shared a common goal: advancing Chinese modern art. Their collective efforts contributed to a significant chapter in art history, and this exhibition aims to honor that legacy, shedding light on the present while looking towards the future.

Writer: Xu Qiuping

Photos courtesy of Tsinghua University Art Museum

Editor: Li Han