Supreme Harmony of Heaven and Earth—Mu Kemin’s Spring 2021 Art Exhibition

Chinese painting has always placed great emphasis on the interplay of brush and ink. As the Tang‑dynasty scholar Zhang Yanyuan once remarked, “The essence of structure and rhythm both originate in artistic conception and ultimately find their expression through the use of the brush,” underscoring that the very soul of Chinese painting lies in its mastery of brush and ink—capable, within a confined space, of evoking the vastness of heaven and earth and the rich hues of nature, thereby stirring a profound resonance within the viewer. With but one glance at the painting on the western wall, from then on I no longer turn my gaze southward when beholding the mountains.

▲ “Clear Spring Flows Over the Rocks,” a work by Mou Kemin

Mou Keming is the former deputy director of the Art Research Institute of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture, president of the Jiangsu Association for Sino‑Foreign Cultural and Social Exchanges, a member of the expert panel of the National Arts Science Expert Database under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, deputy director of the Office of the Leading Group for the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Celebrities Database, a member of the pool of senior‑level art‑title reviewers in Jiangsu Province, editor‑in‑chief of the editorial board of the journal “Danqing World,” a member of the China Artists Association, and a national first‑class artist.

With over forty years of dedicated practice and research in traditional Chinese painting, he has held two solo exhibitions and had his works featured in numerous national, provincial, and municipal shows, where they have received awards. He is the author of several acclaimed volumes, including “Collection of Landscape Paintings by Mou Kemin,” “Magnificent Rivers and Mountains: Landscape Paintings by Mou Kemin,” and “Harmony Between Heaven and Earth: A Collection of Chinese Landscape Paintings by Mou Kemin.” In addition, he has published more than twenty scholarly essays and critical articles. His work has been extensively covered by prominent media outlets such as CCTV’s Calligraphy and Painting Channel, Jiangsu Television, Nanjing Television, Jiangsu Longhu Net, as well as leading art publications including the Art News, China Calligraphy and Painting News, Ink China, Calligraphy and Painting Art, and Danqing World. Over two hundred of his paintings are now part of private and institutional collections across society.

Some say, “The greater the inner tolerance of a landscape painter, the more grandeur his works can convey.” Mou Kemin’s landscape paintings embody a humanistic spirit and the philosophical principle of the unity of heaven and humanity. Through his masterful use of brush and ink, he seamlessly integrates the natural landscapes of both northern and southern China, imbuing them with a distinct contemporary ethos and artistic character that illuminates the profound spiritual essence of nature.

He said that landscape painting is both an act of contemplating nature and a reflection on life. What matters most is that mountains embody a character that serves humanity without seeking anything in return, while water, with its gentle resilience, exudes a spirit rich in vitality and grace. It is precisely these qualities of landscapes that he has come to appreciate, coupled with his commitment to cultivating personal refinement, which together have given rise to the literati‑inspired, free‑hand style of his landscapes and a distinctive aesthetic that fuses multiple artistic traditions.

▲ “Autumn Mountains, Ever-Flowing Spring Water” by Mou Kemin

▲ “Mountain Spring Meanders Past My Home,” a work by Mou Kemin

▲ “South Wind” by Mou Kemin

▲ “Autumn Spring Painting” by Mou Kemin

▲ “Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains” by Mou Kemin

▲ “Lotus Pond” by Mou Kemin

(For the following works, please view in landscape mode.)

▲ “A Glimmer of Scenic Beauty Across the Land,” by Mou Kemin

This art exhibition is co-organized by the Jiangsu Provincial Association for Sino‑Foreign Social and Cultural Exchange and Taihe Law Firm, with Nanjing Zhengyatang serving as the implementing agency. It is also supported by Art Hundred Masters Magazine, Danqing World Magazine, Fine Arts Daily, China Jiangsu Net, Yihua.com, Toutiao, the Baidu App, Douyin, Kuaishou, and other partners.

“Supreme Harmony of Heaven and Earth”—Mou Keming’s Spring 2021 Solo Exhibition will open on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. at Taihe Gallery, located on the 9th floor of the Hohai Science and Technology Building, No. 70 Qingjiang South Road, Nanjing.