Rare works of Feng Zikai unveiled at Changning retrospective

Among the artists who bridged classical Chinese aesthetics with humanist sensibilities is Feng Zikai (1898-1975), a beloved painter who was also a virtuoso in calligraphy, literature, and music.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the artist's passing, an exhibition hosted by the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy and the Feng Zikai Research Institute has opened at Cheng Shifa Art Museum in Changning district, Shanghai.

Themed "life is short, art is long", the exhibition brings together nearly 200 works by Feng, including ink paintings, manuscripts, calligraphy, and family archives, with some on public view for the first time.

Divided into four thematic sections — "A Poetic Heart", "A Childlike Heart", "A Compassionate Heart", and "A Patriotic Heart" — the exhibition traces the emotional depth and ethical reflections that define Feng's art. While best known for his deceptively simple brush drawings of everyday life, Feng's visual style is layered with literary allusion, gentle irony, and a profound empathy for the human condition.

One of the highlights is a set of three newly unveiled handscrolls, each over 7.6 meters in length, featuring classical texts such as Peach Blossom Spring and Nineteen Old Poems, alongside Feng's own poetic compositions. These are exhibited together with his lesser-known personal letters, including a touching family correspondence written in the traditional literati style, offering a glimpse of the private warmth behind his public legacy.

The exhibition runs through Sept 7 and is complemented by educational programming as well as a line of cultural products designed to bring Feng's artistic spirit into everyday life.