Exhibition of artwork donations from Yan Jialong and Zou Chuan'an kicked off

The Opening ceremony of Exhibition of Artwork Donations from Yan Jialong and Zou Chuan'an was held in the second special exhibition hall of Hunan Museum on the morning of May 10th. The exhibition，featuring 48 works of Yan and 62 of Zou, aims to present the artistic achievements of the two masters as well as charm of Hunan contemporary calligraphy and painting. In response to the International Museum Day (May 18th), this exhibition will last until May 30th.
 

The opening ceremony

The opening ceremony was hosted by Chen Xuliang, vice director of Hunan Museum. And it was attended by many distinguished guests such as Ou Yangbin, Chairmain of the Federation of Literary and Art Circle of Hunan Province, Yan Fuchu, vice director Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism; leaders from other institutions; Zhou Chuan'an and family members of Yan Jialong. Li Jianmao (vice director of Hunan Museum), Yan Fuchu, Zhou Chuan'an and Yan Zhengzheng (daughter of Yan Zhenglong) addressed the ceremony.
 

Yan Fuchu made a speech
 

Li Jianmao made a speech 

In 2013, Zou Chuan'an, a Hunan artist famous for flower-bird fine brushworks donated 799 pieces of his own paintings to the Hunan Museum. And in 2014, 64 representative works of Yan Jialong, a well-known calligrapher in Hunan, were given to the museum by his family members, which is the last wish of Yan when he was alive. Over the past several years, Hunan Museum has been devoted to the arrangement, collection, research and preservation of those donations. Works selected in this exhibition not only marked the peak of their personal achievements, but also revealed the level of Hunan contemporary art between the latter part of 20th century and the early 21st century.

Exhibition of Zou's works is divided into 3 units, namely Fine Brushwork Painting, Draft and Flower-bird Freehand Brushwork, fully presenting his superb expertise and profound cultural quality. Some of the works such as First Blossom of Lotus and Moon and Flowers showed the unique combination of splash-color and fine brushworks, creating a new realm of painting. Techniques and elegance embedded in Zou's flower-bird freehand brushwork as well as the subtle balance between Chinese and western methods in his calligraphy make his artistic attainment all the more prominent.

Exhibition of Yan Jialong's works is also divided into 3 parts, namely Poems in ancient and modern times, Poem creation and Shao Zi calligraphy, unveiling a sense of vigor, gracefulness and openness. With varied styles of calligraphy, he successfully interpreted the connotation of poems in ancient and modern times. Nourished by traditional calligraphy, he produced many beautiful poems in tranquility. He also learnt from the "Shao Zi calligraphy” of Japan and created works imbued with contemporary aestheticism. One of his representative calligraphies is the couplet “Big river is flowing to east while my road came from the South (大江东去，吾道南来)”, each with a length of 2.59 m and width 0.84m, impressing people with grandness and magnificence. It was created in 2004, when Yan was 76 years old, a golden time of his artistic career which witnessed his maturity and ease in profession as well as many works full of strength and elegance created thereby.
 

The ribbon-cutting during the ceremony

The exhibition has been opened since May 10th. 

Introduction of the Artists

Zou Chuan'an 

Zou Chuan'an, style name “Shu Jing”, pseudonym “Zhi Zhi”, was born in Shuiche Town, Xinhua County of Hunan Province in 1940. He enjoys multiple titles—member of Chinese Artists Association, member of Hunan Research Institute of Culture and History, guest professor of Art School of Hunan Normal University and national-level artist. Before retirement, he worked in Federation of Literary and Art Circle of Loudi City, Hunan Province. 

Having been dedicated to the research and creation of flower-bird fine brushworks, he has gained abundant artistic skills. His unique combination of splash-color and fine brushworks created a new realm of painting. Some of his paintings and written works have been transformed into over 20 publications，some of which are collected in renowned institutions at home and abroad such as Hunan Museum, National Art Museum of China and Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.

Yan Jialong

Yan Jialong (1928-2012), a contemporary calligrapher and art educator, was born in Lianyuan, Hunan Province. He is the owner of multiple titles such as leader of art column of Hunan Daily, professor of Art School of Hunan Normal University, director of Chinese Calligraphers Association, chairman of Hunan Calligraphers Association and member of Chinese Artists Association.

Keen on art and literature since childhood, Yan got inspiration and guidance in calligraphy from his great-uncle when he was a little boy. During middle school, he was taught by Zhou Da. When he entered the National Central University and later pursued further education in Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, he received instructions from masters like Fu Baoshi and Pan Tianshou. His handwritings, varying from the regular to the cursive, unfailingly distinguished themselves with either strength or refinement. Long-term practice on tablets of Han and Wei Dynasties as well as Lushan Temple Tablet imparted his handwriting a touch of roughness. His works appeared in national-level exhibitions many times. Several collections of his works have also been published. 

As one of the main founders and organizers of Hunan Calligraphers Association, Yan strove for 20 years, greatly enhancing the influence of Hunan Calligraphy.