A poster for the exhibition. [Photo/zhejiangmuseum.com]

On July 13, the Extension of Life – The 110th Anniversary Art Exhibition of Sha Qi debuted at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum's Zhijiang branch.

The exhibition features 165 items, including oil paintings, sketches, watercolors, newspaper and white paper drawings, photographs, and personal items of Sha Qi. It offers an in-depth exploration of the artist's work and stylistic evolution across different periods.

Sha Qi, who studied at several prestigious art institutions in China, was recommended by Xu Beihong in 1937 to further his education at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. Under the guidance of New Realist painter Jules Bastien-Lepage, he studied traditional European painting, earning the Gold Medal for Outstanding Art. He exhibited alongside Picasso and other notable modernist painters, becoming an important local figure.

Sha's portrait. [Photo/zhejiangmuseum.com]

Sha's artistic journey encapsulated a transition from classicism to impressionism and abstract art. His grandson, Sha Yisong, noted that many of the exhibited works were brought back from Europe, marking Sha's first artistic peak achieved overseas.

Scheduled during the summer holidays, the exhibition aims to inspire the younger generation with Sha's vivid depictions of history and culture. The exhibition runs until Sept 8 at the basement level of the Zhejiang Provincial Museum's Zhijiang branch.

Sha's painting of a river in Hangzhou. [Photo/zhejiangmuseum.com]