Cao Zhen caozhen0806@126.com UNDER the glow of the exhibition hall lights, elegant landscape paintings gleam alongside mirrors. Calligraphic works, meanwhile, radiate calmness and lasting grace. Painting and calligraphy enthusiasts shouldn’t miss two new exhibitions at He Xiangning Art Museum. ‘The Harmony of Aesthetics’ This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of national rejuvenation and a forerunner of China’s democratic revolution. As Sun’s close friends, Liao Zhongkai and He Xiangning devoted their lives to the nation and its people, leaving behind lasting legacies of paintings and poems that embody resilience and integrity. “The Harmony of Aesthetics” brings together art museum professionals nationwide to create calligraphic works based on poems by He and Liao. By reflecting on history, it honors the revolutionary couple, whose steadfast commitment defined their service to the country. Some artists draw on the spirit of Wang Xizhi (303-361), balancing dignified elegance with smooth, flowing grace. Others take inspiration from monumental steles and ancient tablets, pursuing a realm of plain, unadorned simplicity. Visitors can also pick up a brush to practice calligraphy themselves, experiencing firsthand the charm of ink and brushwork. Dates: Until April 23 ‘Beyond the Mundane’ The exhibition explores the evolution of 20th-century Chinese landscape painting. It features 48 paintings by 20 masters, including Li Keran, Ye Qianyu, Jiang Zhaohe, Guan Shanyue, Wu Zuoren, and Wu Guanzhong. The works show how artists seek refuge in nature — pursuing a spiritual dwelling beyond the ordinary, grounded world. Displayed in five sections — Spring, Night, Snow, Clouds, and Trees — the exhibition uses a distinctive presentation, enhanced by mirrors and carefully designed lighting effects, to create an atmosphere of transcendent ease. From the vibrant promise of spring to the fusion of figurative and impressionistic freehand in depictions of snow, trees, and mist, and onward to the subtle handling of nocturnal scenes — these landscapes, rich with Chinese sensibility, offer a distinct cultural response in both technique and subject matter. Dates: Until May 31 Venue: He Xiangning Art Museum, Nanshan District (何香凝美术馆) Metro: Line 1 to OCT Station (华侨城站), Exit C | 