An art exhibition featuring the works of master painter Xu Beihong has become a major attraction during the Spring Festival holiday at a museum in Sichuan. The special exhibition, titled "Galloping Through Sichuan," showcases 24 original pieces by Xu Beihong and 18 selected works from artists of the "Beihong School," with a notable highlight being the rare display of his renowned "Galloping Horse" series.
On February 20, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the exhibition halls were filled with visitors. The displays were carefully arranged with contrasting light gray and red walls, and warm spotlights illuminated each artwork, allowing nearly a century of artistic heritage to unfold before viewers’ eyes.
One visitor, Mr. Li from Chengdu, expressed his excitement at finally seeing Xu Beihong’s original works in person. "I’ve been familiar with his art since childhood through textbooks," he said. "Coming here feels like fulfilling a long-held dream." As a calligraphy enthusiast, he spent considerable time studying the brushstrokes and compositions, appreciating the unique charm of traditional Chinese painting.
A family from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, also visited the exhibition during their first self-drive trip to Chengdu. They stumbled upon the event while dining nearby and decided to explore it. They were deeply impressed by the lifelike depiction of horses in Xu Beihong’s works, noting how the exhibition vividly demonstrated the integration of Chinese and Western artistic techniques.
Elsewhere in the hall, an elderly couple admired a calligraphy scroll, while younger visitors carefully photographed the paintings, trying to capture the essence of the artworks without disturbing the ambiance. The atmosphere was quiet yet lively, with soft footsteps, whispers, and occasional camera shutters blending into a harmonious background.
Among the attendees was 82-year-old Ye Huaixiang, a retired professor and avid calligraphy and painting enthusiast from Luzhou. He traveled to Chengdu specifically to see the exhibition with his family. Ye, who serves as the head of the Luzhou Senior Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting Research Association, has been practicing art since his seventies and has copied over a hundred classical works, including Xu Beihong’s horse paintings.
"Seeing the originals in person is a completely different experience from viewing reproductions in books," Ye remarked. He praised Xu Beihong for blending Eastern and Western styles, revitalizing Chinese painting, and mentoring other great artists such as Qi Baishi and Jiang Zhaohe.
The exhibition, which will run until August 10, centers on Xu Beihong’s iconic horse-themed works. Several pieces are being shown in Sichuan for the first time, including the 1939 edition of the *Twelve Zodiac Animals* album, considered a foundational work in the series. Other highlights include rare fan paintings like *Galloping Horses* and prints such as *Jiufang Gao*, which exemplify the artist’s fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics.
In addition to Xu Beihong’s works, the exhibition features 18 pieces by artists of the Beihong School, such as Li Hu’s *Night Sail in the Three Gorges* and *Guan Hanqing*, tracing the school’s influence and educational legacy in Sichuan.
Outside the museum, visitors can also enjoy themed activities such as a replica old-style newspaper stand, "Feihong Coffee," traditional Sichuan tea, and performances of Sichuan opera and face-changing, adding a cultural and festive dimension to the art experience.
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