2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Feng Zikai’s passing. On September 5, “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai”, co-organized by Beijing Fine Art Academy and Feng Zikai Research Association, was officially staged at Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy. Under the theme of “Endless Refreshment”, this exhibition comprises four sections, i.e. “Poetic Sentiments”, “Compassion for Life”, “Joy of Childlike Innocence”, and “Charm of Leisure”, supplemented by letters, manuscripts, archival materials, and diverse interactive forms. Together, these elements construct a multi-dimensional exhibition space that unfolds Feng Zikai’s warm and insightful artistic world. This is not merely a commemoration but also a dialogue across time and space, guiding visitors into his spiritual realm that dwells within yet rises above the mundane world.

      The theme of “Endless Refreshment” draws inspiration from a Zen-like dialogue between Feng Zikai and the thinker Ma Yifu. When Feng Zikai spoke of his plan to create Paintings of Impermanence, Ma Yifu gently responded: “Impermanence is constancy. Impermanence can be captured with ease, yet constancy remains beyond the brush.” These words, like a refreshing breeze, brought Feng Zikai an “instant sense of refreshment”. From that moment onward, he contemplated the world with a tranquil heart, capturing glimpses of eternity within fleeting moments. In these simple lines resides the “constancy” he discerns—the enduring purity of childlike innocence, the eternal cycle of growth and decay in nature, and the abiding warmth of human connection. He transforms elusive impermanence into tangible daily life, freezing the true essence of existence in the flow of time.

      Feng Zikai’s art remains steadfast in its pursuit of the authenticity of human nature and the charm of everyday life. The “refreshment” embodied in his works represents not merely an aesthetic style, but the very essence of his spiritual outlook—the wisdom that observes life with calmness and engages with the world with grace. Today, in an era of information overload and pervasive anxiety, the “refreshment” that transcends time and space proves more important than ever.

 

      Four Sections Illuminating the Serene Delight of Art

 

      The exhibition begins with “Poetic Sentiments”, showcasing Feng Zikai’s unique ability to capture classical poetry through ink and wash. In his works, all things possess a spirit, and every plant and tree holds emotion. Poetry awakens amidst the ink, infusing the mundane aspects of life with a poetic charm. This elegance is not forced but a natural extension of his worldview—turning life into a simple yet profound poem.

 

A Crescent Moon

Feng Zikai 30.2 × 23.5 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

Standing alone and Reciting a Poem

Feng Zikai 70 × 32 cm, Color on Paper, 1945

Collection of Beijing Fine Art Academy

 

      The Section “Compassion for Life” focuses on Feng Zikai’s humanistic care and philosophy of life. His compassion is reflected in his gentle attentiveness to all living beings. Over many years, he created Paintings on Compassion for Life, advocating respect for life, abandoning killing, and upholding benevolence and peace. Additionally, Paintings on Compassion for Life documents his profound connection with Ye Gongchuo, the first director of Beijing Fine Art Academy.

 

Feathered Friends

Feng Zikai 29.8 × 23.5 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

The Fallen Blossoms Are Not An Unfeeling Thing

Feng Zikai 30 × 23 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

      The Section “Joy of Childlike Innocence” captures the pure moments of children with delicate observation. The warmth of home, the innocence of childhood, and the depth of friendship flow quietly from the artist’s brush. Feng Zikai always views the world with a childlike heart—sincere, free, and pure. Thus, his brush becomes a mirror, with every stroke reflecting his cherishment of the true essence of life.

 

Kiss

Feng Zikai 30 × 22.8 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

Father Returns Home

Feng Zikai 30.1 × 22.7 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

      Notably, this section displays Feng Zikai’s family letters. Though the paper is short, the affection is long—each word carries advice and expectations for his children. Additionally, this exhibition reconstructs Feng Zikai’s “music lessons” from his handwritten scores. This immersive scene allows visitors to experience his beautiful fusion of art and daily life, and how he nurtures childlike innocence through aesthetic education. These precious manuscripts and documents reveal Feng Zikai not only as an accomplished artist and educator but also as a father who infuses everyday life with wisdom, warmth, and love.

 

Zikai’s Letter

Feng Zikai, October 9, 1970

Right: 23 × 29 cm, Left: 23 × 19.5 cm

 

Musical Score of The Last Rose of Summer

Feng Zikai 27 ×19 cm

 

       Concluding with the Section “Charm of Leisure”, this exhibition conveys Feng Zikai’s pursuit of finding beauty in simple and idle life. He painted, wrote, and translated throughout his diligent life, yet was never bounded by fame or fortune. With tranquil brushwork and serene composition, this is not an idleness of laziness, but a lucid freedom attained after clamor. It invites us to savor a sense of leisurely ease within the ordinary, leading to the sudden openness of mind.

 

Apricot Blossoms in Spring

Feng Zikai 30 × 22.8 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

Enjoying Flowers With Wine

Feng Zikai 30.1 × 23.5 cm, Color on Paper

Collection of the Feng Zikai Family

 

       Not Just about “Seeing”, But about Gaining Insight through Reading

 

       The exhibition hall offers several “reading areas”. Based on various documents, books serve as a medium to a deeper understanding of Feng Zikai. We have carefully selected a range of his important works, including essays filled with the vibrancy of daily life, comic collections full of wit and humor, short essays with delicately portrayed feelings, collections of diverse paintings, academically rigorous translations, and profound works on art theory and scholarly research. These elements form a multi-dimensional reading space that combines historical value and theoretical depth. Here, visitors can escape distractions, fully immerse themselves in reading, and gain insight into Feng Zikai’s artistic philosophy and inner world—undergoing an intellectual journey from visual appreciation to profound contemplation.

 

       At the end of the exhibition hall, two interactive areas await, inviting you to step into Feng Zikai’s artistic world. At the “Paw Prints in the Artist’s World” interactive desk, you can pick up a brush and paint a lively cat—a frequent subject in Feng Zikai’s works, now brought to life through your own hands. The “Exhibition Visit Notebook” interactive area at the entrance resembles a paper-based garden of ideas, where you can write down your observations, reflections and inspirations during the visit. The words and emotions on pages become a unique souvenir of your exhibition experience. 

 

 

       He is neither a traditional literati painter nor a Western-style cartoonist.

 

       He is Feng Zikai, a pioneer of modern Chinese cartoons, a leading figure in the transition of Chinese painting from tradition to modernity, and the first director of Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy. He is also a writer, educator, translator, and book designer.

 

Feng Zikai (1898-1975)

 

      Fifty years ago, Mr. Feng Zikai left us quietly; half a century later, we meet him through his brush and ink. This exhibition is a tribute to a cultural luminary in literature, painting, music, and translation. It also invites visitors to explore more while appreciating. By combining calligraphy, paintings, historical documents, audio-visual materials, and interactive forms, visitors come to the artistic world of Feng Zikai, which is delicate, warm, and illuminating. In the noise of modern life, visitors rediscover a dwelling place for the soul: a state of “endless refreshment”.

 

      If you too yearn for a place of refreshment,

      If you too embrace constancy amidst impermanence, 

      Then come to Beijing Fine Art Academy this autumn. 

      We are waiting for you,

      Just as we are waiting for all who understand the significance of constancy. 

 

      We’ve also prepared a small gift for you: exclusive exhibition-themed emoticon pack!

     Scan the QR code on WeChat to download it for free and add a touch of art and joy to your daily life!