Region proves inspiration for generations of poets

Jiangnan (江南), referring to the regions south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, has long been eulogized by poets whether in ancient or modern times, such as the household poem “Recalling Jiangnan” written by Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi (AD 772-846).

“How nice is the land of South!

I always recall its fair sights.

At sunrise the flowers seem red like a fire,

In springtime the river waters greener than grass.

How can I ever forget the land of South?”

However, when the impression of Jiangnan comes under the brush strokes of the artists, words are replaced by colors.

An exhibition entitled “Impression of Jiangnan: A Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” is currently on display at Suzhou Art Museum through March 17.

The exhibition features nearly 80 artworks created by a group of artists who grew up, lived or worked in Jiangnan, including some heavyweight names such as Yan Wenliang (1893-1988), Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010) and Zao Wou-Ki (1921-2013).

“Although the participating 70 artists vary in their background, generation or art styles, yet they all created their impressions of Jiangnan before,” says Zhang Lixing, curator of the exhibition, “It is interesting that in the eyes of these artists, Jiangnan is no longer a concrete or stereotypical scene, and it doesn’t need to be a realistic depiction, sometimes Jiangnan could be abstract or impressionistic.”

If you ask 10 people about their impressions of Jiangnan, you might get 10 different answers. Jiangnan means springtime at its best and worst, a Utopian garden that always haunts the mind of those who have been.

“I am considering why Jiangnan becomes a spiritual word,” says Zhang, “In ancient times, those demoted or retired officials would come to Jiangnan and built up a private garden where they enjoyed a leisurely lifestyle. The garden embodied many traditional aesthetics of a scholar’s ideals. They would write poems, meet friends and see the seasons change inside.”

So Jiangnan is not only a word that renders a feeling of nostalgia but also a spiritual freedom.

Li Chao, a professor at the Fine Arts College of Shanghai University, said: “Today when we start to discuss Jiangnan, we are actually taking about an ideal civilization.”

“Boating under the Moonlight” created by Yan is a highlight of the exhibition. The painting is an impressionistic canvas filled with a poetic and romantic atmosphere.

Yan, together with Liu Haisu (1896-1994), founded the Shanghai Art Institute and Suzhou Art Institute, the cradle of China’s modern art.

“Nearly all the big names in China’s modern art history have close links with the regions south of the Yangtze River, and I dare say that their influence still lingers today,” Zhang said.

Apart from the artworks of the first generation of modern artists, the exhibition also reflects the interpretation of today’s artists toward Jiangnan through a series of varied art pieces.

Date: Through March 17, 9am-4pm,

Address: 2975 Renmin Rd, Suzhou

Ti Gong