The grand opening of “Simple Spicy Poetry—A Research Exhibition on Yan Ming’s Donated Works” has been held.

On December 30, 2023, the exhibition “Simple Spicy Poetry—A Study of Yan Ming’s Donated Works” officially opened at the Ba Da Shan Ren Memorial Museum.

This time, the Eight Great Mountains Man Memorial Hall has accepted a donation from Yan Ming’s family, honoring Mr. Yan Ming. The exhibition features a total of 108 items, including 53 artworks, 36 manuscripts, and 19 preliminary sketches—covering subjects such as flowers and birds as well as landscapes. After more than a year of careful organization and research, drawing on Mr. Yan Ming’s artworks, manuscripts, photographs, and documentary materials, we have compiled this exhibition. The exhibition is divided into three sections: “I’ll Never Rest Until My Words Astonish,” “The Pinnacle of Technique and the Absence of Technique,” and “Mountains and Rivers Possess Divine Power Yet Leave No Trace.” Our aim is to present, as completely as possible, Mr. Yan Ming’s broad and profound artistic achievements that blend Eastern and Western influences, while also highlighting his distinctive personal style shaped by the times. The exhibition will run until March 31, 2024. We warmly invite audiences from all over to come and visit!

Opening Ceremony

Guest Speech

In his speech, Song Guoping, Deputy Director of the Nanchang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio and Television, Press and Publication, and Tourism, pointed out that, as the entire city is studying and implementing the important remarks made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection of Jiangxi and carrying out thematic education in depth, the Eight Great Mountains Man Memorial Hall is hosting... The exhibition “Simple Spicy Poetry—A Study of Yan Ming’s Donated Works” is a concrete manifestation of earnestly studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches, as well as the creative transformation and innovative development of China’s outstanding traditional culture.

At the same time, he stated that Mr. Yan Ming’s donation of his works not only leaves behind a precious spiritual legacy for Nanchang but will also further promote research, inheritance, and exhibition efforts related to local calligraphy and painting art in Nanchang, providing strong support for enhancing the city’s cultural depth and enriching the spiritual and cultural lives of its people. Finally, he emphasized that—in As the 400th anniversary of Bada Shanren’s birth in 2026 approaches, we are seizing this important milestone to plan ahead and organize meticulously, launching a series of high-quality exhibitions and hosting a range of signature events that will showcase to the world the unique charm of Bada Shanren’s art and the profound cultural heritage of China.

Next, Xia Xuebing, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Artists Association and Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Jiangxi Normal University, delivered a speech in which he highly praised Mr. Yan Ming’s achievements in both art and teaching. As one of the founders and pioneers of the School of Fine Arts at Jiangxi Normal University, Mr. Yan Ming’s exemplary teaching has inspired generations of educators. His Chinese paintings are characterized by their simplicity and exquisite refinement, imbued with grandeur and richness, seamlessly bridging tradition with the spirit of the times while preserving the essence of artistic principles and brush-and-ink techniques. The collections and exhibitions at the Eight Great Masters of the Late Ming Dynasty Memorial Hall will enable Mr. Yan Ming’s art to play an even greater role in today’s era.

Issue certificates

Zhou Xiaojian, director of the Eight Great Mountains Man Memorial Hall, presided over the opening ceremony of the exhibition. He introduced the exhibition and provided a brief overview of Mr. Yan Ming to the guests in attendance. He also expressed gratitude for the generous donation made by Mr. Yan Ming’s family and presented Ms. Yan Ling with a certificate of appreciation for her donation.

Next, Ms. Yan Ming’s daughter, Yan... In his speech, Ling... He fondly recalled his father’s life, recounting how, under arduous conditions, his father devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching, revitalizing education in their hometown, and spreading aesthetic ideals—truly deserving of this honor. “A painter who only knows how to teach.” Ms. Yanling expressed deep gratitude to the Eight Great Masters Memorial Hall, thanking them for providing a platform for showcasing, promoting, and researching her father’s works.

Exhibition venue

After the ceremony concluded, the attending leaders and guests moved to the exhibition hall to admire Mr. Yan Ming’s remarkable works. The exhibition drew a large number of visitors who, while learning about the artist’s life and appreciating his creations, also felt deeply the artist’s unwavering dedication to art and his profound love for his country and homeland.

Academic Seminar

In the afternoon At 2:30, an academic symposium on art, on Mr. Yan Ming, and on the exhibition was held at the Eight Great Mountain People Memorial Hall. Guests attending the symposium included: Xia Xuebing, Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Artists Association and Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Jiangxi Normal University; Jin Chen, Honorary Vice Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Artists Association and former Director of the Nanchang Academy of Painting; Zhou Xiaojian, Director of the Eight Great Mountain People Memorial Hall; and Zhang Huiyuan, Professor at the School of Fine Arts of Jiangxi Normal University. Professor, School of Fine Arts, Jiangxi Normal University Fan Jian, Vice President of the Jiangxi Provincial Chinese Painting Society; Shang Yinghui, Director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Painting at the School of Fine Arts, Jiangxi Normal University; Sun Chengfei, Deputy Director of the Costume Museum at Jiangxi College of Fashion; Liao Yuanyu, Associate Professor at the School of Fine Arts, Jiangxi Normal University; and Yan Ling, Yan Ping, and Yan Lan—children of Mr. Yan Ming—attended the seminar. The seminar was chaired by Zhang Jianrui, former Vice Dean of the School of Fine Arts, Jiangxi Normal University. Guests engaged in lively discussions on Mr. Yan Ming’s life anecdotes, artistic achievements, and teaching philosophy, sharing their insights and perspectives. At the conclusion of the seminar, Teacher Fan Jian passionately performed Wang Wei’s “Sending Yuan Er to Anxi,” accompanied on the guqin by Teacher Zhang Jianrui, thus expressing his deep remembrance and heartfelt nostalgia for Mr. Yan Ming.

This time The successful opening of the “Simple Spicy Poetry—A Research Exhibition of Yan Ming’s Donated Works” would not have been possible without the care and support from all sectors of society. We look forward to seeing even more in the future. person We can participate in cultural development activities within society and jointly contribute to the inheritance and advancement of the outstanding culture of the Chinese nation.