Calligraphic strokes

Practicing calligraphy and seal engraving has long been essential to the self-cultivation of Chinese artists and scholars. Technical mastery ultimately serves the deeper purpose of achieving cultural refinement. Diligent Study on Calligraphy, an ongoing exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing until Aug 12, unveils the spiritual world of Zhao Yanguo, an artist based in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. The show features more than 30 sets of his calligraphic scrolls and engraved seals.

Zhao's works invite audiences into a scholarly atmosphere, reflecting his years of pursuit in building a spiritual link with the masters of ancient times and to form his own style to carry on China's cultural lineage.

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

Art forerunner

Although lesser known today, Hu Gentian (1892-1985) played a crucial role in promoting modern art and fine art education in 20th-century Guangdong province.

Hu Gentian and the Western Art Development in 20th Century Guangdong, an ongoing exhibition at the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy, sheds light on this pioneering figure of art development and education in Guangdong, where he hailed from, lived and worked for the most of his life. The exhibition runs through Aug 24.

Once trained in Japan, Hu introduced Western artistic techniques and educational concepts to China, planting the seeds of modernism. He mentored young homegrown artists, some of whom later joined him in reshaping the art education system. Together, they transformed the modern art landscape of Guangdong and southern China in the 20th century.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 12 Chaoyang Gongyuan (Park) Nan Lu, Beijing.010-6502-5171.

Spiritual realm

Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song, now open in the gallery of the China National Academy of Painting, is an exhibition that pays tribute to eight outstanding writers of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, including the "three Sus" — Su Xun and his equally renowned sons, Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Their eloquent prose left a lasting impact on Chinese literature and culture, with their works still included in school curricula and dramatized in historical television series. The paintings are on show until next Thursday. They visualize the scenes, poetic atmosphere and spiritual realms that were described by the masters, marking their intellectual heights and humanism. The exhibition invites audiences to experience the timeless beauty and humanism of classic Chinese literature.

9-11:30 am, 1:30-4:30 pm, daily. 54 Xisanhuan Bei Lu, Haidian district. 010-6841-2606.