Name: Mountains and Rivers, Clear Light: Paintings by Wang Jian, Wang Hui and the Yushan School
Start: 2013-09-05T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2013-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Macao Museum of Art

Exhibition Overview

This exhibition, "Mountains and Rivers, Clear Light," is the second installment in a landmark series by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) dedicated to the "Four Wangs" of the early Qing Dynasty. Following the 2011 exhibition "Orthodox School of Landscape Painting" which focused on Wang Shimin, Wang Yuanqi, and the Loudong School, this 2013 exhibition presents the masterpieces of Wang Jian, Wang Hui, and the Yushan School.

Featuring 300 significant works on loan from the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Shanghai Museum, the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the artistic legacy of these pivotal figures who shaped Chinese landscape painting for three centuries.

Key Details

Exhibition Period: September 5 – November 17, 2013
Opening Ceremony: September 4, 2013, at 18:30
Venue: Macao Museum of Art (MAM)
Admission: Not specified (likely ticketed)

Curatorial Context

The exhibition is part of MAM's decade-long commitment to hosting thematic exhibitions and academic symposiums on Ming and Qing dynasty painting. It aims to contribute to the scholarly re-evaluation of art history from this period. The "Four Wangs" (Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Yuanqi, and Wang Hui) were once criticized during the New Culture Movement but have since been reassessed and celebrated for their mastery of classical styles and their role in the "Southern School" lineage established by Dong Qichang.

Academic Significance

Accompanying the exhibition was a specialized academic symposium. Scholars gathered to delve into topics such as:

The artistic lineage, social circles, and creative philosophies of Wang Jian and Wang Hui.
The evolution of their styles and techniques.
Issues of authentication, attribution, and the practice of using studio assistants.
The broader historical and theoretical context of the Yushan School and its place in Chinese art history.

The exhibition and symposium represent a fusion of rigorous textual research (akin to Han Learning) with interpretative analysis (akin to Song Learning), aiming to make these classical masterpieces resonate with contemporary audiences.