What's on

Yan'an attachment

Among the earliest donations that the National Art Museum of China received when opening in 1963 were dozens of woodcuts made by print artists while living in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, a stronghold of the country's communist course. Attachment to Yan'an, an exhibition now on at the National Art Museum, shows artworks created in Yan'an some eight decades ago, when people were motivated to fight imperialism and feudalism. The show is also a celebration of the "Yan'an spirit" that combines determination, commitment and optimism about the communist course. Works on show fall into two categories. One section displays woodcuts, traditional nianhua, or New Year paintings, and photos by artists, including Gu Yuan, Wu Yinxian and Liu Xian, whose output documents the communist history and social development in Yan'an in the 1940s. The second section gathers paintings by Zhao Wangyun, Zhong Han and Jin Shangyi, among others, created after the founding of New China in 1949 and hailing Yan'an's historic role. The exhibition ends on July 12.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6400-1476.

Philosophical art

Xiong Liang, one of China's best picture book illustrators, became the first Chinese artist shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018. Xiong, also an author, a painter and poet, has been nurtured by the cultural traditions of the East and the West from a young age, including classic Chinese ink painting and Western philosophies. His works brim with imagination, emotion, poetry and an inner strength, allowing his output to create a resonance among audiences around the world. From Beginning to Boundlessness, an exhibition now on at One Atelier space in Beijing, offers people the full spectrum and depth of Xiong's work in painting, illustration, writing and design. The exhibition, jointly curated by Jiang Yuan, He Juju and Xiao Huaide, is divided into two sections showing the evolution of his cross-disciplinary approach to creation and takes on art and life. The current chapter, running through July 31, displays paintings themed on flowers and human faces that let viewers glimpse into Xiong's mind, covering traditional and contemporary art, and reflecting on the meaning of existence. In his art world, things emerge and are gone soon: the flowers indicate the passing of time, and the faces in the paintings make viewers feel a state of peace and meditation. The second leg of the exhibition will start from Aug 7 and last through Sept 3.

12 am-6 pm, Tuesday to Friday. Huigugenyuan compound, 2 Guangze Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing.186-1241-1326.

Spiritual resonance

Meng Site's oil paintings are marked with intense colors, abundant details and surrealist compositions, brimming with imagination and sensibilities. The many details in his work, seemingly unrelated but arranged in harmony, embody rich metaphors reflecting Meng's thoughts about social phenomena and changes. Belonging, Meng's solo show at the Space Station gallery, juxtaposes paintings, ready-made installations made of found objects and miniature sculptures, showing his decadelong commitment to art. Meng administers strength and persistence to produce paintings of several meters in length and height. He tries to create a resonance among the audience by sharing his experiences of seeking the truth of the world, and how wisdom, courage and luck can help people navigate through the journey of life. The exhibition lasts until Sept 25.

10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays. 4 Jiuxianqiao Road, 798 Art Zone, Chaoyang district, Beijing.010-5978-6971.

Ink inspiration

The method of jimo (ink accumulation) has been an important technique of classic Chinese painting, developed by generations of ink painters through the centuries, including Gong Xian, Huang Binhong and Li Keran. Inheriting the accumulations of such master painters, Lai Zhigang has built a style of his own to reiterate the diversity and infiniteness of ink. In his work, Lai layers varying shades of ink to present the moisture of the atmosphere in valleys and near waters, rising smoke and floating clouds. He thereafter is able to deliver a sense of Taoism. Lai's solo show, Inherit and Innovation, is on at Guangdong Museum of Art through July 19.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 38 Yanyu Road, Ersha Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong province.020-8735-1468.

China Daily