Municipal Academic Conference Event

　　Time: 10:00 a.m., September 30, 2020
　　Keynote Speaker: Feng Chaohui (Associate Professor at Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, and Master’s Supervisor)
　　Lecture Content: “Several Major Channels for the Transmission of Qi Baishi’s Works to Japan”

　　Feng Chaohui’s lecture unfolded from two perspectives: First, several channels through which Japanese collectors acquired works by Qi Baishi. After graduating from the Chinese Painting Department of Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, Feng Chaohui went to Japan for study and lived there for 16 years. While pursuing his own artistic creation, he devoted himself especially to the study, research, authentication, acquisition, and return to China of masterpieces by renowned Chinese artists—among which Qi Baishi’s works were one of his primary areas of focus. Qi Baishi’s authentic works were mainly brought to Japan via the following channels: First, by holding painting exhibitions that facilitated the sale of Qi Baishi’s works in Japan; second, through Japanese collectors and merchants who traveled to China to purchase these works and then carried them back to Japan for sale; third, through proactive requests by Japanese officials and businesspeople or by receiving such works as gifts. Second, Qi Baishi’s study and emulation of Bada Shanren. As Qi Baishi himself wrote in a poem: “Qingteng and Xuege transcend ordinary birth; Old Fugai, in his declining years, displays unique talent. I’d rather be a stray dog in the underworld than fail to serve under the three masters.” This poem clearly illustrates the profound influence Bada Shanren had on Qi Baishi’s art. Although after his late-life transformation Qi Baishi abandoned Bada Shanren’s cold and aloof style, the saying “Those who learn from me will live; those who merely imitate me will perish” underscores that Qi Baishi’s engagement with Bada Shanren was not simply an imitation of artistic techniques, but rather a profound pursuit of Bada Shanren’s artistic spirit.