SAN DIEGO, CA.- The San Diego Museum of Art welcomes Brush and Ink: Chinese Paintings from The San Diego Museum of Art Selected by Pan Gongkai, on view April 29, 2016 through September 4, 2016. Curated by acclaimed contemporary Chinese artist Pan Gongkai, the exhibition showcases the evolution of brush and ink painting from the 15th century to the present day. Brush and Ink features over 40 works from the Museum’s collection of more than 200 Chinese paintings.
Selected by Pan Gongkai based on his personal history, experiences, and dedication to the medium of ink painting, Brush and Ink highlights the artistry of the traditional technique of brush and ink painting with works that include hand scrolls, hanging scrolls, and fans. Ink painting has a centuries-long history in China that endured many cultural shifts, including a period when the art form was suppressed due to political turmoil. Though weighted by this expansive history, the artist sees ink painting as still being capable of expressing contemporary Chinese culture.
The exhibition features works from Wu School masters from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) including Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming, who combined the “three perfections” – painting, calligraphy, poetry – in a style using ink washes and expressive brushwork. A major theme of Wu school paintings is the withdrawal from official life and the return to nature. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), artists who were part of the imperial court worked in a classical, conservative manner while other artists retreated from public society in an effort to resist the Qing regime. Many became Buddhist or Daoist monks and their work focused on individuality. Works from the Qing dynasty include those from Wang Yuanqi, Wang Jian and Huang Shen.
From the 20th century, work by artist Qi Baishi showcases bold brushstrokes inspired by ancient calligraphic style, depicting simple subjects that experiment with composition, form, and ink tonality. Zhang Daqian, inspired by abstract art being produced in Europe and the Americas, incorporates a layered ink wash technique and color to create a modern take on the tradition. A work by Xu Beihong combines Western academic techniques with the conventional Chinese media in his attempt to rejuvenate the ancient brush and ink practice.
Pan Gongkai is one of the foremost contemporary Chinese painters working today. He was president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, one of the most prestigious art schools in China, as well as the former president of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou. His works have been exhibited worldwide and the artist represented China at the 2011 and 2015 Venice Biennales. Known for his study and practice of traditional Chinese art and its history, the artist has focused on the recent and rapid explosion of Western influence within China.
Pan Gongkai was inspired to guest curate an exhibition at The San Diego Museum of Art after learning about its significant collection of Chinese art during a U.S.-China Museum Directors Forum in Beijing, where the Museum’s Executive Director Roxana Velásquez was invited to speak on a panel. Throughout the past year, Pan Gongkai made several trips to the Museum to review the collection and selected the paintings to display the scope of Chinese painting in The San Diego Museum of Art. The artist also created several works exclusively for The San Diego Museum of Art, which were displayed in a special exhibition in 2015.
“It’s been an honor working with Pan Gongkai on this exhibition as his deep knowledge of Chinese brush and ink painting is unparalleled,” said Velásquez. “Not only will Museum visitors be able to view some of these featured works for the first time, they will be able to experience the evolution of Chinese painting through the lens of a world-renowned brush and ink artist.”
Additionally, the exhibition will feature Pan Gongkai’s own monumental painting, Noble Virtues. The 50-foot-long work was made by commission for The San Diego Museum of Art in 2015. It includes four poems in the artist’s distinct calligraphy and pairs classical Chinese brush and ink techniques with more contemporary Western practices. Brush and Ink opens on the occasion of Art Alive, the Museum’s signature fundraiser. Art Alive celebrates 35 years of floral interpretations of works of art, taking inspiration from Brush and Ink.
