Exhibition View

On April 1, 2026, the 108th anniversary of the founding of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the opening and donation ceremony of "No Smooth Path to the Summit—The Exhibition of Works by Li Xingjian" was held at the Academic Lecture Hall of the CAFA Art Museum. Selected as part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's "2025 National Art Works Collection and Donation Reward Program," this project was also the largest private donation that the Central Academy of Fine Arts has received over the past decade.

Exhibition View

From a young student to an outstanding tutor, Prof. Li Xingjian experienced a journey at the Central Academy of Fine Arts from being an exceptional artist to a diligent educator. The history of the Central Academy of Fine Arts combined with the lifelong artistic achievements of a devoted student who enrolled in CAFA in 1958 and guided by the late ink master and educator Li Keran (1907-1989) converge in this exhibition, embodying the legacy and commemoration expressed in the saying, "Peaches and plums do not speak, but they are so attractive that a path is formed below the trees."

Yu Yang, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, delivered a speech.

Jin Jun, Director of the CAFA Art Museum, delivered a speech.

Li Geng, a representative of Li Keran's family and Director of Li Keran Academy of Painting, delivered a speech.

Yu Yue, a representative of Li Xingjian's students and CAFA School of Calligraphy, delivered a speech.

Huang Huasan, a representative of Li Xingjian's family and professor at the School of Arts, Renmin University of China, delivered a speech.

Li Yaochen, Deputy Secretary of the Party Branch directly under the CAFA Art Museum, served as the host.

Han Wenchao, Party Branch Secretary of the CAFA Art Museum, presented a donation certificate to Prof. Huang Huasan.

Zhou Yue, Director of the Office of the CAFA Education Development Foundation, presented a donation certificate to Prof. Huang Huasan.

View of the Opening Ceremony

This donation project included over 260 traditional Chinese paintings and over 3,000 sketches by Prof. Li Xingjian (b. 1937 in Wuhan). These thousands of works reflect a deeply affectionate tribute from an artist to his alma mater, presenting a vivid visual diary, covering every stage of his exploration over more than 60 years since he studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Prof. Li Xingjian donated the project award that he received to the Academy to establish the "Li Xingjian Sketching Prize." This pure sentiment of "taking from art and giving back to teaching" will undoubtedly illuminate the artistic journey of generations of students.

Exhibition View

Engraving of No Smooth Path to the Summit

About the Exhibition

Dates: March 28–April 19, 2026

Venue: Gallery 3A & 4, CAFA Art Museum

Organizer: CAFA Art Museum

Supported by CAFA School of Chinese Painting, CAFA School of Calligraphy

Academic Director: Yu Yang

Coordination Directors: Jin Jun, Qiu Ting, Xu Hai, Han Wenchao

Curatorial Director: Gao Gao, Hai Jun

Academic Support: Huang Huasan, Liu Rong, Yu Yue

Curators: Li Yaochen, Li Jie

Design Director: Ji Yujie

Design Assistant: Min Zhiyin

Curatorial Assistants: Chen Tianyi, Li Ze, Zha Yirui

Exhibition Management: Wu Peng, Xiu Shicun, Jing Peng, Lyu Zhifa

Collection Management: Li Yaochen, Xu Yan, Jiang Nan, Wang Chunling, Ma Liang, Cui Ranran, Dou Tianwei, Li Wei

Media: He Yisha, Wu Jing, He Yifei, Du Yinzhu, Ding Yi, Guo Hongmei

Public Education: Xiao Baozhen, Geng Jinghua, Wang Jun, Yao Yiqun, Liang Wen, Xi Huawei, Cai Meng

Financial Affairs: Yang Liu, Men Jing

Development and Promotion: Sun Wei, Yi Yi, Jin Jianru, Kou Lei, Liu Xingling

Administrative Support: Jiang Siyu, Yue Junyao, Zhang Qian, Guo Xu, Chen Xiaohua

Video Production: Du Xiaocheng

Seal Rubbings: Wang Xiaocheng, Lin Zhuoyang, Dong Xuanning, Li Jiameng, Zhang Enyuan, Liu Yizhao, Wang Qiushi, Xie Yancheng, Cui Zihui, Lin Han, Zhang Qirui, Guo Zihao, Liu Jinming, Su Haoming, Chen Zeye, Fan Lin, Duan Shuo, Zhao Boyang, Wu Mengze, Xue Yutong, Sun Guanming, Li Boya, Sun Yixuan, Chen Yuming, Zhang Yifan, Ren Jinhong

Special Thanks: Li Yuhua, Wang Tongren, Jiang Baolin, Wang Yong, Cui Xiaodong, Zhou Hongbing, Wang Wei, Gao Yi, Wang Geng

Courtesy of CAFA Art Museum, edited (EN) by CAFA ART INFO. 

Article Source：https://www.cafa.com.cn/en/news/details/8332930