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Art benevolence

Zhu Lesan inherited from his teacher, Wu Changshuo, a prominent artist of the early 20th century in China, a passion for classic art in the forms of poems, calligraphy, ink-color painting and seal engraving. Deeply influenced by his mentor, Zhu has integrated the styles of various scripts of Chinese characters, including those inscribed on oracle bones, primitive drums and bronzes, into his paintings. Zhu also emphasizes the delivery of a poetic touch in his work. His paintings often feature poems composed by himself to accentuate a scholarly atmosphere. Benevolence of an Artist, an exhibition to mark the 120th anniversary of Zhu's birth, is being held at the Beijing Fine Art Academy. The 90-odd paintings, calligraphy pieces and seal impressions on display are from the collection of China Academy of Art, a public university in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where Zhu taught for decades. The Zhu Lesan Art Gallery in his native home of Anji, Zhejiang, and his family also provided exhibits for the show. The exhibition has been the first activity of a series of events in memory of Zhu. He is most accomplished in the long-standing art of seal engraving. A classic Chinese ink painting is often endorsed with the seals of its creator, critics and collectors. The seals are engraved into the many scripts of Chinese calligraphy and with birth names, courtesy names, pseudonyms and mottos to suggest their users' takes on life. The engraved seals in Zhu's oeuvre demonstrate his profound understanding of calligraphy and the relationship between figurative and abstract forms of art. The exhibition runs through to Sept 18.

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