Mi Jingyang: the guardian and torchbearer of Chinese painting
The Mi Jingyang exhibition at Jingshan Park in Beijing. All photos have been provided courtesy of the Mi Jingyang family and are used with permission.
In recent months, a retrospective exhibition honoring the late Mi Jingyang (1936–2023)swept through Shanghai and Beijing to packed crowds and glowing praise. More than just a
showcase of his rich and colorful ink works, the exhibition reignited public interest in a figure who stood at the unique crossroads of artist, connoisseur and cultural steward.
To call Mi Jingyang a painter alone would be like calling Leonardo da Vinci just a draftsman.
Over nearly seven decades, Mi played an outsized role in the preservation, authenticationand global promotion of Chinese painting. His career began in 1956 at Rongbaozhai (榮寶齋), the storied Beijing-based art house that traces its legacy back centuries. There, hemastered the exacting craft of traditional woodblock printing and was soon seconded to thePalace Museum to assist in the restoration of Song and Yuan masterpieces – a role that
fine-tuned his eye for historical authenticity.
As China opened its doors to the world in the late 20th century, Mi became a tirelessambassador for Chinese painting. He helped organize landmark international exhibitions inJapan, Hong Kong and the United States, showcasing works by iconic 20th-century masters
such as Dong Shouping, Wu Guanzhong and Cheng Shifa.
His efforts earned him a reputation as a visionary curator with a rare mix of scholarship and strategic savvy. One of the Four Talents of the Capital, Beijing, Wu Huan once put it.
'Aside from Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong, nearly every modern Chinese master whose work has achieved international acclaim owes something to Mi Jingyang's advocacy.' From left to right: Fan Zeng, Mi Jingyang Pictured left: Cheng Shifa; right: Mi Jingyang From left to right: Mi Jingyang, Zhang Rongbo, Qi Gong Chen Shaomei's painting, of a court lady
Art, for Mi, was never abstract. It was personal. He married into a family steeped in artistic excellence – his father-in-law was none other than Chen Shaomei, one of Republican China's most celebrated painters. Chen's style synthesized the rugged elegance of Guo Xiand Li Tang with the lyrical refinement of Ma Yuan, Xia Gui, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying. Hiscourtly ladies were so admired that some called him the heir to Tang Bohu. In 1930, Chenwon a silver medal at Belgium's centennial international exposition, making his name spoken in the same breath as those of Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi.It's no wonder that Mi, growing up in such an environment, developed not only a discerning eye but also an artist's soul. While he humbly called himself a 'Sunday painter,' hisflower-and-bird ink paintings, influenced by Wang Xuetao, won accolades far beyond
hobbyist circles. Exhibited in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, his artworks are now held in numerous public and private collections. They exude a refined elegance and a meditative stillness – a kind of visual haiku that bridges East and West.
Mi's judgement as an art authenticator was revered. Appointed by China's Ministry of Culture as a national-level appraisal consultant, he advised major auction houses and museums. His evaluations carried weight not just because of his technical accuracy, but because of his unimpeachable integrity. In a rapidly commercializing art world, Mi Jingyang remained an anchor of credibility.
In his later years, Mi turned to teaching, writing, and reflection. His memoir, Forty Years at Rongbaozhai , remains a rare insider's chronicle of China's evolving art market and
institutional dynamics. Through it, readers gain insight not just into works of art, but into the art of staying true to one's ideals amid shifting tides.
Mi passed away in 2023 at the age of 87. Two years later, Shanghai's Duo Yun Xuan ArtHouse mounted a major retrospective of his ink works, accompanied by the posthumous
publication of The Collected Works of Mi Jingyang's Color-Ink Paintings . It was a celebration not only of his brushwork, but of a life lived in service to beauty, history, and truth. 'Dawn Crow' by Mi Jingyang
In an era in which art is increasingly valued by clicks, prices and spectacle, Mi Jingyang's life offers a timely reminder: the true value of art lies not in its trendiness, but in its ability to carry the soul of a culture across generations. 'A Room Aglow' by Mi Jingyang
So, the next time you stand in front of a Monet, a Hokusai or a Qi Baishi, think of Mi Jingyang, the man who spent his life making sure the old masters still had a voice in our modern world.
I once asked his son, Mi Chuan, how he would sum up his father's legacy. He told me
simply: 'I just hope people remember my father – not only as an art authenticator or a gallery owner, but as a truly gifted painter in his own right.
Jeffrey Sze is chairman of Habsburg Asia (partially owned by the Habsburg family) and general partner of both Archduke United Limited Partnership Fund and Asia Empower LPF. He specializes in high-end art transactions and in real-world asset tokenization transactions using blockchain technology. In 2017, hw secured a cryptocurrency exchange license in Switzerland.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
HKFP
2 hours ago
- HKFP
China's first Legoland – and world's biggest – opens to tourists in Shanghai
Thousands of local tourists poured into China's first-ever Legoland as it opened its gates in Shanghai on Saturday, the latest theme park hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. 'I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home… so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity,' said Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. 'Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad,' said Shi, adding his family now travels to theme parks around China 'many times a year'. Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000-square-metre (78.5-acre) compound in scorching temperatures. Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. A new 'Spider-Man' attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now 'in the phase of creative design'. Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. 'The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions,' said Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 percent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. 'The labour market is turning more flexible,' said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research. 'More people have leisure time to travel around.'
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China talent agent Yang Tianzhen, who works with stars like Fan Bingbing, pursues US studies
She is one of the biggest names in China's entertainment industry, and spotting talent is her business. But Yang Tianzhen is now putting her own skills to the test by studying for a master's degree in the United States. The famous mainland talent agent and entrepreneur is studying global communication and public policy at the University of Southern California (USC). Her switch from the bright lights of the entertainment industry to the hallowed halls of academia has captivated mainland social media and left some asking, just who is Yang Tianzhen. In 1985, Yang Tianzhen graduated from the Communication University of China in Beijing. Photo: Baidu Her first lesson at USC was finding that fame is difficult to shake off, even if you are thousands of miles away from home.
AllAfrica
2 days ago
- AllAfrica
Mi Jingyang: the guardian and torchbearer of Chinese painting
Skip to content The Mi Jingyang exhibition at Jingshan Park in Beijing. All photos have been provided courtesy of the Mi Jingyang family and are used with permission. In recent months, a retrospective exhibition honoring the late Mi Jingyang (1936–2023)swept through Shanghai and Beijing to packed crowds and glowing praise. More than just a showcase of his rich and colorful ink works, the exhibition reignited public interest in a figure who stood at the unique crossroads of artist, connoisseur and cultural steward. To call Mi Jingyang a painter alone would be like calling Leonardo da Vinci just a draftsman. Over nearly seven decades, Mi played an outsized role in the preservation, authenticationand global promotion of Chinese painting. His career began in 1956 at Rongbaozhai (榮寶齋), the storied Beijing-based art house that traces its legacy back centuries. There, hemastered the exacting craft of traditional woodblock printing and was soon seconded to thePalace Museum to assist in the restoration of Song and Yuan masterpieces – a role that fine-tuned his eye for historical authenticity. As China opened its doors to the world in the late 20th century, Mi became a tirelessambassador for Chinese painting. He helped organize landmark international exhibitions inJapan, Hong Kong and the United States, showcasing works by iconic 20th-century masters such as Dong Shouping, Wu Guanzhong and Cheng Shifa. His efforts earned him a reputation as a visionary curator with a rare mix of scholarship and strategic savvy. One of the Four Talents of the Capital, Beijing, Wu Huan once put it. 'Aside from Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong, nearly every modern Chinese master whose work has achieved international acclaim owes something to Mi Jingyang's advocacy.' From left to right: Fan Zeng, Mi Jingyang Pictured left: Cheng Shifa; right: Mi Jingyang From left to right: Mi Jingyang, Zhang Rongbo, Qi Gong Chen Shaomei's painting, of a court lady Art, for Mi, was never abstract. It was personal. He married into a family steeped in artistic excellence – his father-in-law was none other than Chen Shaomei, one of Republican China's most celebrated painters. Chen's style synthesized the rugged elegance of Guo Xiand Li Tang with the lyrical refinement of Ma Yuan, Xia Gui, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying. Hiscourtly ladies were so admired that some called him the heir to Tang Bohu. In 1930, Chenwon a silver medal at Belgium's centennial international exposition, making his name spoken in the same breath as those of Zhang Daqian and Qi no wonder that Mi, growing up in such an environment, developed not only a discerning eye but also an artist's soul. While he humbly called himself a 'Sunday painter,' hisflower-and-bird ink paintings, influenced by Wang Xuetao, won accolades far beyond hobbyist circles. Exhibited in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, his artworks are now held in numerous public and private collections. They exude a refined elegance and a meditative stillness – a kind of visual haiku that bridges East and West. Mi's judgement as an art authenticator was revered. Appointed by China's Ministry of Culture as a national-level appraisal consultant, he advised major auction houses and museums. His evaluations carried weight not just because of his technical accuracy, but because of his unimpeachable integrity. In a rapidly commercializing art world, Mi Jingyang remained an anchor of credibility. In his later years, Mi turned to teaching, writing, and reflection. His memoir, Forty Years at Rongbaozhai , remains a rare insider's chronicle of China's evolving art market and institutional dynamics. Through it, readers gain insight not just into works of art, but into the art of staying true to one's ideals amid shifting tides. Mi passed away in 2023 at the age of 87. Two years later, Shanghai's Duo Yun Xuan ArtHouse mounted a major retrospective of his ink works, accompanied by the posthumous publication of The Collected Works of Mi Jingyang's Color-Ink Paintings . It was a celebration not only of his brushwork, but of a life lived in service to beauty, history, and truth. 'Dawn Crow' by Mi Jingyang In an era in which art is increasingly valued by clicks, prices and spectacle, Mi Jingyang's life offers a timely reminder: the true value of art lies not in its trendiness, but in its ability to carry the soul of a culture across generations. 'A Room Aglow' by Mi Jingyang So, the next time you stand in front of a Monet, a Hokusai or a Qi Baishi, think of Mi Jingyang, the man who spent his life making sure the old masters still had a voice in our modern world. I once asked his son, Mi Chuan, how he would sum up his father's legacy. He told me simply: 'I just hope people remember my father – not only as an art authenticator or a gallery owner, but as a truly gifted painter in his own right. Jeffrey Sze is chairman of Habsburg Asia (partially owned by the Habsburg family) and general partner of both Archduke United Limited Partnership Fund and Asia Empower LPF. He specializes in high-end art transactions and in real-world asset tokenization transactions using blockchain technology. In 2017, hw secured a cryptocurrency exchange license in Switzerland.
