Xing Jianjian — Your Appearance (Opening Chapter)

October 28, Xing Jianjian | “Your Appearance”—the Zhengyatang 2023 Autumn Exhibition—has opened at Taihe Law Firm. The exhibition features 54 works by artist Xing Jianjian. The atmosphere was vibrant, with a full house and a gathering of distinguished guests.
 

This art exhibition is jointly organized by the Jiangsu Provincial Association for Sino‑Foreign Social and Cultural Exchange, the Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Enterprises, the Jiangsu Provincial Entrepreneurs Association, and the School of Fine Arts of Nanjing University of the Arts, in collaboration with Taihe Law Firm, and is hosted by the Nanjing Zhengyatang Art Museum. It also receives support from the Cultural and Artistic Special Committee of the Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Chinese Association, the Jiangsu Provincial General Store of Cultural Relics, Xinhua All‑Media Art Museum, Nanjing Shichao Art Museum, Suzhou Xu Beihong Art Museum, Twenty‑Four Hours Art Museum, Space Digital Art Space, Nanjing Yao Art Museum, Zhongguan Culture, and Nanjing Wenchao Cultural Technology Co., Ltd., among others.
 

Julie, director of the Zhengyatang Art Gallery, presided over the opening ceremony of this exhibition. She began by expressing her gratitude to the organizers and co-organizers for their dedicated support. She then introduced the distinguished guests in attendance, extending a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks. Since 2016, Taihe Gallery has hosted more than ten exhibitions, each featuring works by renowned calligraphers and painters, earning significant acclaim within the art community.
 

The artist featured in this exhibition is Xing Jianjian, a professor at the School of Fine Arts of Nanjing University of the Arts. Professor Xing notes that portraiture has long been one of the principal genres in the visual arts. The painter’s primary task is not merely to achieve the closest possible likeness between the subject and the sitter; more importantly, it is to convey the subject’s personality and individual traits with precision, thereby establishing, through the language of painting, a quintessential image of the portrayed figure.

Professor Chen Shaoli, a renowned painter at the Nanjing University of the Arts, introduces the artist.
 

Li Zhaobin, a former professor at the PLA Navy Command Academy, expressed his great pleasure at being invited to attend this art exhibition. He praised the works on display as exceptionally beautiful and extended his congratulations on the event’s resounding success, adding that he hopes the Taihe Zhengyatang exhibition will continue to flourish.
 

General Lü Xianjing, former Director of the Political Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Military District and a lieutenant general in the People’s Liberation Army, remarked that this is an invaluable learning opportunity, and Professor Xing’s exhibition is truly compelling. Building on his mastery of oil and watercolor, he seamlessly integrates the techniques and strengths of traditional Chinese painting. Professor Xing captures the concrete forms of our physical world while evoking the abstract realms of our imagination. We are deeply grateful for such a rich and nourishing artistic feast.
 

Qu Chao, former deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and currently deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial CPPCC Members’ Work Committee, stated that he has had several exchanges with Professor Xing and feels proud of his hometown’s distinguished artistic masters. Art springs from life and serves the public; the portraits and vivid landscapes featured in this exhibition allow viewers to sense the spirit and ethos of our times. He expressed hope that Professor Xing will continue to create more outstanding masterpieces.
 

Li Kun, former deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial State‑Owned Assets Management Commission and a first‑class inspector, now serving as president of the Jiangsu Enterprise Federation, stated that viewing Professor Xing’s artworks evokes cherished memories and stirs the finest emotions within. Looking ahead, he added, they will organize and facilitate opportunities for entrepreneurs to engage with artists, while also enabling artists to better serve the business community.
 

‍ Wang Ningsheng, former deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial State-owned Assets Management Commission and a first-class inspector, now serves as the specially invited president of the Jiangsu Enterprise Federation. He stated that this art exhibition seamlessly integrates Western watercolor techniques with Chinese motifs, mural elements, and traditional artistic influences.
 

Hou Pu, president of the Jiangsu Logistics Association, stated that Taihe Law Firm is steeped in an artistic ethos, seamlessly blending art and law to promote and disseminate this synergy throughout the industry, thereby generating a positive and far-reaching cultural impact. The firm has truly succeeded in bringing art into everyday life, into society, and closer to entrepreneurs.
 

Liu Chuanjun, former director of the Gulou District Bureau of Culture, stated that Xing Jianjian’s works combine a Western artistic foundation with an Eastern aesthetic charm.
 

Li Hui, a second-level researcher in the Tourism Promotion Division of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, stated that Professor Xing’s exhibited artworks use female figures to convey truth, goodness, and beauty. In these paintings, the women’s slender necks and porcelain‑white skin are imbued with hope and cherished dreams. Underlying an Eastern aesthetic, the works feature a light, airy brushwork and hazy colors, reflecting a strong sense of social awareness; through each stroke, they integrate a commitment to and responsibility for social issues. It is believed that art can elevate the quality of life, just as it can enhance the quality of the individual.

Guo Dongmei, Director of the Sixth Division of the United Front Work Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee, stated that by integrating artistic works into the law firm’s working environment, they have truly brought art into everyday life and the workplace. She believes that working in such an artistic setting will offer a uniquely comfortable experience. The beautiful women depicted by the artist present the allure of Chinese women to audiences through the lens of Western culture. Likewise, in this manner, the artist is effectively showcasing the admirable image of Chinese women to the world.
 

Ruan Lirong, Vice Dean of the School of Arts at Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, remarked that the figures in Xing Jianjian’s works are either elegantly timeless, steeped in enigmatic allure, shy and demure, or quietly sincere—each brushstroke revealing the artist’s profound passion for art, with the pieces themselves akin to thoughts flowing seamlessly through the strokes.

Chen Guohuan, advisor to the Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Folk Artists Association, and vice president of the Jiangsu Provincial Chinese Painting Society, stated that art emphasizes individuality, aesthetic concepts, and creative philosophy. In Xing Jianjian’s works, one can discern the following characteristics: a hazy quality—flowers seen through mist, the moon reflected in water; and a quietness—brushstrokes seem to pulse, while the figures remain serene. For an artist to discover a unique mode of expression is a truly fortunate thing. At this exhibition, people from all walks of life gathered together to savor this feast of art. Spreading beauty is of great importance, and imagination is even more vital than knowledge. Imagination is a key factor in one’s overall sense of well‑being.

Guest speakers took the floor, and the atmosphere at the event was electric. Ma Qun, Chief Partner of Taihe Law Firm, delivered remarks, expressing his gratitude to Professor Xing Jianjian for organizing this grand exhibition at both Taihe and Zhengyatang—a remarkable fusion of art and law. He extended heartfelt thanks to Professor Xing for choosing Zhengyatang and Taihe, and conveyed his sincere appreciation to all attendees.

Lay flowers at the scene.

Following the solemn and well-organized opening ceremony, Xing Jianjian | Your Appearance — Zhengyatang 2023 Autumn Exhibition, The official opening has begun! Next, we’ll share some exciting behind-the-scenes moments from the art exhibition!

Xing Jianjian is a professor at the School of Fine Arts, Nanjing University of the Arts, and a master’s supervisor. He is a member of the China Artists Association and a director of the Jiangsu Oil Painting Society.

His works have been featured in the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th National Art Exhibitions, as well as in the 2nd and 3rd China Oil Painting Exhibitions, and have been showcased and presented through lectures in the United States, France, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries and regions. His piece “1911—A History You Can See” was awarded the Second Jiangsu Wenhua Prize, while “Summer 1998: Rainbow” received the Gold Medal at the inaugural Jiangsu Art Festival. In 2018, he was included in the Jiangsu Province Outstanding Artists Series Exhibition, titled “Xing Jianjian.”

Published “Collection of Works by Prominent Chinese Oil Painters: Xing Jianjian,” “Great Compendium of Chinese Artists: Volume on Xing Jianjian,” “Flowers Are Not Flowers,” “Xing Jianjian’s Oil Paintings,” “As the Shadow Follows Xing,” “Model Teaching Paintings from China’s Higher Art Institutions: Selected Masterpieces in Oil Painting by Xing Jianjian,” “Model Textbook for China’s Higher Art Institutions: Portrait Oil Paintings by Xing Jianjian,” “The Great Wall,” and “Dialogue with Paintings: A Tribute to the Masters,” among others.
Media partners for the event: Guangming Online, China.org.cn, Phoenix News, Xuexi Qiangguo platform, Tencent News, China Arts Network, Bohua Arts Network, China Artists Network, China Culture and Art Network, China Art Investment Network, Jiangnan Times, Deep Suzhou, Suzhou Art Chronicle, Yinli Bo, Jiaohuidian, China Fine Arts Daily, China Calligraphy and Painting Daily, Qingqing World Magazine, and Xiu Jiangnan Magazine.