More than 350 gongbi paintings created by 190 Chinese artists are on display at the “Refinement and Extension: Contemporary Chinese Masters’ Delicate Gongbi Work” exhibition at Guan Shanyue Art Museum. Entry is free.
Gongbi paintings at Guan Shanyue Art Museum. Photos by Cao Zhen
The exhibition, co-organized by the museum and China Hue Art Association, is the largest gongbi painting show in Shenzhen since the founding of the city 40 years ago.
“The changes in time, media and people’s aesthetics are the main driving forces in the development of gongbi paintings. These factors extend the boundaries of contemporary Chinese gongbi paintings. Painters today not only keep the traditional gongbi techniques but also have a wider vision now,” said Xia Hesheng, deputy director of China Hue Art Association.
Curator Niu Kecheng added that, “Among the exhibited items, painters’ exploration in subjects and techniques are significant. They use refined strokes to express profundity.”
Gongbi is a careful realist technique in Chinese painting, which uses highly detailed brush strokes that delimit details with extreme precision.
The gongbi style had its beginnings approximately 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.).
“This grand national exhibition presents the current development of Chinese gongbi paintings. I’m glad to see our traditional art is full of life today. This exhibition is very open-minded in that we also showcase paintings with ink art styles and contemporary abstract styles,” said Chen Mengxin, director of China Hue Art Association.
Chen Xiangbo, director of Guan Shanyue Art Museum and also a renowned painter, said, “Since 2014, our museum has attached great importance to contemporary Chinese gongbi paintings and has held six gongbi painting exhibitions featuring young artists.”
After the Shenzhen leg, the exhibition will begin its national tour to Hubei, Anhui, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Shandong, Tianjin and Beijing.
Dates: Until May 19
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mondays
Venue: Guan Shanyue Art Museum, 6026 Hongli Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路6026号关山月美术馆)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit B