Chinese Horse Art on Exhibit in Horse Capital of the World
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2014) — Chinese and Western traditions come together in beautiful ink paintings of horses beginning this weekend at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. An exhibition of work by artist Xu Qingping, presented in partnership with University of Kentucky's Confucius Institute and School of Art and Visual Studies, will open with a public lecture by the artist on Oct. 18. The exhibition will run through Feb. 17.
Xu Qingping was a professor of art history and a member of the academic committee of Central Academy of Fine Arts. He is deputy curator of Xu Beihong Museum, vice chairman of the Chinese Painters and Calligraphers Association and dean of Xu Beihong Arts Research Academy, at Renmin University of China. The artist and scholar will present a lecture at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, in the South Theatre at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor. The lecture is free and open to the public. All attendees of the lecture can see the exhibition for free immediately following the talk.
Qingping’s paintings are highly influenced by traditional Chinese ink painting within a Western academic milieu as made famous by his father, Xu Beihong. By adding color and additional elements to his work, Xu Qingping has differentiated himself from his father while still remaining grounded by his influence.
Born in Beijing in 1946, Qingping holds a doctoral degree in fine arts from University of Paris-Sorbonne. He is a council member of the Chinese Artists Association and recipient of a State Council Special Fellowship.
Quigping's father, Xu Beihong, was a legendary Chinese painter whose ink horse paintings are imbued with Western techniques of anatomy mixed with the traditional dynamic free ink play of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Known for his galloping horses, the symbol of unbridled spirit in Chinese culture, Beihong successfully developed a synthesis of Chinese and Western traditions in his work after attending the Paris Art Academy in the 1920s.
Horse painting was an important subject in Chinese art. Images of horses appeared in paintings in the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 B.C.). Artists from the succeeding dynasties also built quite an impressive repertoire of horse paintings culminating in the Tang Dynasty (618-906 A.D.) and Song Dynasty (960-1127 A.D.).
In addition to helping support the exhibition, an art contest will be organized by the Confucius Institute for both K-12 students and UK College of Fine Arts students, with awards given out at the close of the exhibition.
The Kentucky Horse Park is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 2. Admission is $16 for adults and $8 for children 7-12, and includes the next day free. Beginning Nov. 3, the park will switch to its winter schedule and will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Winter admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for children 7-12, and includes the next day free. Children 6 and under are always admitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate; and the “Showplace for Saddlebreds” – The American Saddlebred Museum & Gift Shop.
The mission of the UK Confucius Institute is to serve as Kentucky’s gateway to China in the areas of education, arts, culture and business. Since its inauguration, the institute has positioned itself as a conduit of UK’s China initiatives, and created many successful partnerships between colleges at UK and Chinese Universities. UK Confucius Institute has also played a valuable role in K-12 Chinese language and cultural education.
The UK School of Art and Visual Studies at the UK College of Fine Arts is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of art studio, art history and visual studies, and art education.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu