Media reports on Liang Jiang

Lingnan talent, true character of a scholar

---Famous scholar, calligrapher and painter Liang Jiang returns to Guangdong to hold his first solo exhibition of calligraphy and painting

Deputy Director of the National Art Museum of China, Guangdong The first personal exhibition of calligraphy and painting works by Liang Jiang, a famous contemporary scholar and calligrapher, will be held at Lingnan Art Museum in Dongguan for 20 days starting from January 17, 2012. The exhibition was jointly organized by the National Art Museum of China, Guangdong Artists Association, Lingnan Art Museum, etc., and displayed more than 100 calligraphy, landscape, flower and bird works by Liang Jiang in recent years.

Liang Jiang is the first doctorate and the first doctoral supervisor in the Guangdong art circle. He graduated from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in his early years and later went to Beijing to complete his master's and doctoral studies. He once founded the magazine "Guangdong Artists" in Guangdong and served as the chief editor of "Guangzhou Literature and Art". After arriving in Beijing, he served as director of the Institute of Fine Arts of the China Academy of Art and deputy director of the National Art Museum of China. In recent years, he has served as the chairman of the doctoral graduation defense at Peking University. He has given many lectures at the humanities forum of Peking University and Tsinghua University. He has served as the leader of a delegation of Chinese artists visiting foreign countries. He was invited to serve as the chief planning committee member of the 2012 London Olympic Art Conference.

Liang Jiang is a scholar, calligrapher and painter who is active at the forefront of today's Chinese cultural and artistic circles and has made great achievements. His historical research and writings that cut into the current situation of art are well-known in the art world for his sharp thinking, unique insights, and elegant writing. His new book "History of Chinese Art Appraisal and Collection" is the first general history of art appreciation and collection in China. His works "New Introduction to Art" and "Guangdong Painting Circle Hearing and Seeing Records" are also highly praised in terms of art theory construction and regional art history research. As a cultural celebrity who came to the forefront of the country from Lingnan and brought glory to the Guangdong art circle, Liang Jiang has an outstanding reputation in the academic world. He is a generous man and a low-key person. He has focused on academic research and been busy with national art activities for many years. However, his many achievements in calligraphy and painting creation are hidden by his literary name. This time he returned to Guangdong to hold the "Feelings of Lingnan—Liangjiang Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition", which was his first personal exhibition of calligraphy and painting works and will be toured in many places in Guangdong. The exhibition is named "Sentiment for Lingnan", which shows his attachment to Guangdong, a fertile land for humanity. Lingnan Art Museum has specially arranged an exhibition during the prime time of the Spring Festival. This exhibition will add brightness to Lingnan Renchen's New Year.

Liang Jiang has studied famous calligraphy since he was a child, and has profound calligraphy skills. He learned from various schools and was able to integrate the strengths of each school into his own style. The most eye-catching cursive script is full of vertical and horizontal strokes, vigorous and simple, and has a very distinct artistic personality. In terms of painting, he graduated from the oil painting class of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in his early years, and later painted Chinese paintings. The paintings of landscapes, flowers and birds are characterized by flexible and changeable brushwork and an elegant and natural style. He has a profound foundation in Western painting and an in-depth interpretation of traditional brush and ink. He is able to integrate his rich knowledge into his brushwork, which reflects his extraordinary cultural accomplishment, solid brushwork skills and multi-faceted creative talents. The calligraphy and painting tour held in Guangdong this time showcased for the first time more than 100 works created by Liang Jiang in various body styles and different brushwork techniques. The Lingnan talent and scholar's character make the audience feel overwhelmed. Xu Qinsong, chairman of the Guangdong Artists Association, praised him as "profound in academic knowledge and extraordinary in skills".