Preface
Still life is among the most enduring subjects in painting, traditionally considered a fundamental discipline in artistic training. As a result, art history has accumulated a rich and diverse corpus of still life works across various styles, each contributing to the radiant tapestry of our visual heritage.
In classical Chinese ink painting, scholar-artists employed objects as vehicles for lyrical expression and moral allegory—exemplified by the “Four Gentlemen”: plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. The early 20th century, however, brought seismic historical shifts and the influx of Western ideas, precipitating a profound transformation in Chinese painting. Through a dynamic process of collision, conflict, adaptation, and synthesis, Chinese painting embarked on its modernizing journey—a continuous, evolving exploration that extends to the present day. Movements and critical debates such as “Revolutionary Realism,” “The Nationalization of Oil Painting,” “Scar Art,” the provocation that “Brush and Ink Are Equal to Zero,” the declaration of “The Impasse of Chinese Painting,” “Cynical Realism,” and “Fragmented Revolution” all mark significant moments and reflections within this ongoing narrative.
Despite its ordinariness and approachability—lacking grand narrative, dramatic visual impact, or monumental scale—the still life has faithfully documented and embodied the intellectual explorations and emotional warmth of generations of artists.
How, then, should Chinese artists observe and articulate their world? How should they engage with contemporary challenges? How confront their profound cultural legacy? And how break from convention to forge new paths, thereby contributing to a distinct and respected vision of Chinese modern and contemporary art on the global stage? The still life offers us a compelling and revealing lens through which to consider these fundamental questions.
Silent Observation and Materialization: A Research Exhibition of Still Life in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art
Artists：
Lin Fengmian, Wu Dayu, Guan Liang, Wu Guanzhong, Song Buyun, Liu Yiwen, Dai Ze, Sun Zongwei, Li Hu, Li Luogong, Xiao Shufang, Ding Tianque, He Muqun, Hu Shanyu, Fang Junbi, Ha Ding, Wei Qimei, Luo Erchun, Luo Bonian, Zhou Sicong, Shang Yang, Zhang Xiaogang, Zhou Chunya, Duan Zhengqu, Zhao Youping, Xin Dongwang, Shi Benming, Ma Lu, Ni Jun, Liu Wei, Liu Fengzhi, Li Jin, Wu Yi, Zhu Wei, Hong Lei, Ji Dachun, Xia Junna, Yin Zhaoyang, Tan Jun, Kang Haitao, Song Kun, Ma Ke, Jiang Huajun, Song Yongxing, Yu Yiwen, Qin Qi, Li Kang, Xia Yu, Peng Si, Shi Yanliang, Zeng ZhiqinDuration: January 1 - Feberary 1, 2026
Venue: Hall 3/4, Yancheng Art Museum
