The study and research of the works of Qi Baishi in the collection of Beijing Fine Art Academy is a long-term academic duty for the Beijing Fine Art Academy, in addition to the conventional exhibitions divided by the themes of the paintings, they have also presented the latest research results for the public with these special exhibitions. In 2016, the Beijing Fine Art Academy? co-operated with Ningbo Museum, and started from a new perspective to comprehensively research nearly two thousand pieces of Qi Baishi’s works in the collections of the academy, to present “Why Do I Need an Undeserved Reputation – Qi Baishi’s Selected Works in the Collection of Beijing Fine Art Academy” to the audiences in Ningbo. Then, “Why Do I Need an Undeserved Reputation – Qi Baishi’s Selected Works in the Collections of Beijing Fine Art Academy” kicked off at the art museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy, which was officially opened to the public on January 13, 2017 and continues to May 7, 2017.

“Why Do I Need an Undeserved Reputation” is from the inscriptions of a seal by Qi Baishi in his later years, which is his artistic experience and life sentiment since he was engaged in the art for decades, and it is also a warning that Qi Baishi consciously recognized the self, and adhered to the morality of art. Based on “Why Do I Need an Undeserved Reputation”, it takes Qi Baishi’s life path and artistic growth as the internal clue, to create an in-depth analysis of the artistic value of Qi Baishi. The exhibition is divided into four parts: firstly, the white house with the Star Pool will never have an officer. Secondly, believe that God rewards the diligent. Thirdly, show gratitude to bosom friends. Fourthly, it is a form of loneliness. It totally brings together more than 80 works of Qi Baishi’s, involving Qi Baishi’s representative works of landscapes, characters, flowers and birds, grass and insects, aquariums, birds, fruits and vegetables, miscellaneous paintings, calligraphy, seal cutting and other categories, to have an in-depth excavation of the implied personality charm and the most realistic pursuit of art behind Qi Baishi’s works.

Qi Baishi was born in an ordinary farmhouse in Baishipu of Xiangtan in Hunan province, a pool located in front of the Qi house is called Star Pool, for it is said that a meteorite once fell down at that place. Qi’s mother once said that, “We earn our living with both hands, we don’t envy the officer”, which had a far-reaching influence on Qi, and it also made him “hate to keep in touch with the officialdom in his life”. In the first part of the exhibition, a number of copies of the works by Qi Baishi in the early years are selected.

Diligence is one of the secrets of Qi Baishi’s success. The exhibition presents a work entitled “Pumpkin” with inscriptions written as follows: “The wind blew yesterday, so I could not draw one piece, and then I made it up today, refusing to be at leisure for one day,” from which we can experience Qi Baishi’s hard work. Advised by his best friend Chen Shizeng, Qi Baishi worked hard for more than one decade, and finally created his own style, his form of “red flowers and ink leaves”. Qi Baishi often persuaded people to “believe that God rewards the diligent”. This kind of diligent and hard exploration and creation ran through the art life of Qi Baishi, and also made him harvest more things.

Many people say that Qi Baishi always met people who helped him, and always encountered the magnate in his life. But perhaps only grateful people have a broad mind, and gain selfless help. It can be said that it is precisely because of Qi Baishi’s own simplicity and sincerity behind the talent and effort, as well as the grateful attitude of life that made him more respected, which also objectively created more opportunities in life for him.

“Painting is a form of loneliness, only the men that have a new and graceful mental state, while being indifferent to fame and wealth, can be engaged in painting.” This sentence reveals the concept of life and art that Qi Baishi abided by in his life, he regarded art as a “form of loneliness”, and never greed fame or fortune, he said that “why do I need an undeserved reputation”. Although he experienced the vicissitudes of life, he still maintained a simple innocence, and always lives with art exploration as the pursuit of truth and good.

The Beijing Fine Art Academy specially organized a team to curate “Why Do I Need an Undeserved Reputation – Qi Baishi’s Selected Works in the Collections of Beijing Fine Art Academy”, Qi Baishi’s life and artistic achievement is considered as the historical section of modern Chinese painting circles, to have a comprehensive research of Qi Baishi’s life experience from the folk of Hunan to the cultural center of Beijing, to explore the essential rule of the continuous artistic innovation of Qi Baishi. In the current prosperous and sophisticated art world, it is believed that this thought-provoking exhibition provides us with an opportunity to re-examine and think about the art, and it builds a platform for the general audience to re-read and understand traditional culture.

Courtesy of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO.