The Utmost Harmony of Heaven and Earth — Mou Kemin’s Spring 2021 Solo Exhibition (Preview)

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 of evoking the vastness of heaven and earth and the rich hues of nature within a confined space, thereby stirring a profound resonance within the viewer. With but one glance at the painting on the west 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 Keming

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, earning multiple 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 received extensive coverage on CCTV’s Calligraphy and Painting Channel, as well as on Jiangsu TV, Nanjing TV, Jiangsu Longhu Net, and in leading publications such as the Art News, China Calligraphy and Painting News, Ink China, Calligraphy and Painting Arts, and Danqing World. Over two hundred of his paintings are now part of private collections, institutional holdings, and public collections across various sectors.

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 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 the mountain’s character—its capacity to serve humanity without seeking anything in return—while water, by contrast, embodies a spirit of resilience and profound vitality. It is precisely this quality of mountains and waters that he cherishes, coupled with his commitment to personal cultivation, that has shaped the literati‑inspired, free‑hand style of his landscapes and given rise to a distinctive aesthetic marked by the synthesis of diverse artistic traditions.

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

▲ “Mountain Spring Flows Past My Home” 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 organized by the Jiangsu Provincial Association for Sino-Foreign Social and Cultural Exchange, with support from Taihe Law Firm and Nanjing Zhengyatang.

Coming soon—stay tuned!