Art master Liu Haisu is honored in retrospective exhibition
November 7 marked an evening in honor of Liu Haisu, whose works are the focal point of the Center’s newest exhibition.
On the evening of November 7, “The Master and His Ten Pilgrimages to Huangshan – Exhibition of the collection of the Liu Haisu Art Museum” was inaugurated. The organizers of this exhibition, China Cultural Center in Brussels and the Liu Haisu Art Museum, welcomed over 120 guests, including H.E. Ambassador CAO Zhongming, of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium; Mr. CHE Weimin, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Mission to the EU; Mr. XIANG Shihai, Counselor of Culture of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium; Mr. Paolo SABBATINI, Counselor of Culture of the Italian Embassy in Belgium; Mr. JIN Wenyi, Vice-Director of the Liu Haisu Art Museum; Mr. Bernard DEWIT, Chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. GE Yiyou, Director of the China Cultural Center in Brussels.
LIU Haisu (1896-1994) was both an innovator of Chinese art education and a talented artist. He was known for rejuvenating the native artistic tradition by combining Chinese and Western techniques, which he learned by traveling to Europe. Liu also traveled within China, most notably to Huangshan, which he visited ten times over the course of seventy years. These journeys inspired the great works that are on display at the Center until January 9.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Ge, the Center’s director, addressed the guests and affirmed the outstanding contributions that Liu Haisu made to Chinese painting, oil painting, calligraphy and poetry alike. Mr. Ge also celebrated the 90th anniversary of Liu’s travels to Europe: “In June of 1930, he was invited to be a jury member of the international art exhibition in honor of the 100th anniversary of Belgium’s independence. His Chinese ink painting ‘Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies’ was exhibited and received an honorary award.”
Subsequently, the vice-director of the Liu Haisu Art Museum, Mr. Jin, took the floor. He praised Liu Haisu’s achievements as an innovative art educator and artist. Mr. Jin wants to follow in his footsteps and continue “the long history of cultural exchanges between Belgium and China”. As Mr. Ge pointed out, Liu Haisu had been a part of the tradition of cultural exchange between the two countries.
Lastly, Mr. Dewit encouraged everyone to soak up the paintings by Liu Haisu, whom he compared to the 18th-century painter William TURNER. Both artists used new methods to approach a classic subject. In light of the upcoming Belgian economic and trade mission to China, presided over by H.R.H. Princess Astrid of Belgium, Mr. Dewit reinforced the call for more exchanges between Belgium and China.
The Center invites you to visit this retrospective exhibition and let the dark winter days be brightened by the brilliant work of Liu Haisu.
The Master and His Ten Pilgrimages to Huangshan – Exhibition of the collection of the Liu Haisu Art Museum
FREE ENTRY
November 8, 2019 – January 9, 2020
Open Monday to Friday according to the opening hours of the Center, closed on November 11, December 25 and January 1.
