Exhibition View of “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai”
When you look at Feng Zikai’s artworks, you might see yourself. There seems a little you sitting peacefully in the corner, looking at your heart filled up with the entire world, facing every moment of kindness and injustice.
—Wu Hongliang, Director of Beijing Fine Art Academy
Co-organized by Beijing Fine Art Academy and Feng Zikai Research Association, “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai” is presented to in honor of the 50th anniversary of Feng Zikai’s passing. The exhibition consists of four sections including “Poetic Sentiments”, “Compassion for Life”, “Joy of Childlike Innocence” and “Charm of Leisure”. In addition to paintings, it is also supplemented by manuscripts, letters, archival materials as well as interactive forms. Feng Zikai’s warm and insightful artistic world is unfolded in a multi-dimensional way around the theme of “Endless Refreshment”, which was quoted from a Zen-like dialogue between Feng and Ma Yifu (1883-1967), a modern Chinese thinker, poet and calligrapher.
When Feng Zikai mentioned his plan of Paintings of Impermanence, Ma Yifu gently responded: “Impermanence is constancy. Impermanence can be capture with ease, yet constancy remains beyond the brushes.” Ma’s words inspired Feng like a refreshing breeze and made him feel an “instant sense of refreshment”. Feng contemplated the world with a tranquil heart, capturing glimpses of eternity within fleeting moments thereafter. Among these seemingly simple lines resides the “constancy” he discerns—the enduring purity of childlike innocence, the eternal cycle of growth and decay in nature and the abiding warmth of human connection. He transforms elusive impermanence into tangible daily life, immortalizing the authentic essence of existence in transience.
Exhibition View of “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai”
“Poetic Sentiments” on the ground floor of Beijing Fine Art Academy as the beginning, showcases Feng’s unique ability to combine classical poetry with ink and wash painting. All beings seem to be spiritual and emotional characters in his works. His elegant expression reflect a natural extension of his worldview: life is a simple yet profound poem.
Feng Zikai, A Cresent Moon, 30.2x23.5cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Feng Zikai's Family
Feng Zikai, Standing alone and Reciting a Poem, 70x32cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Beijing Fine Art Academy
Focusing on his humanistic care and philosophy of life, “Compassion for Life” reflects Feng’s gentle attentiveness to all living beings. Advocated by Li Shutong, Feng created several series of Paintings on Compassion for Life which promotes respect for life, upholding benevolence and peace rather than killing. This series also documents Feng’s connection with Ye Gongchuo, the first director of Beijing Fine Art Academy.
Feng Zikai, Feathered Friends, 29.8x23.5cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Feng Zikai's Family
Feng Zikai, The Fallen Blossoms Are Not An Unfeeling Thing, 30x23cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Feng Zikai's Family
Exhibition View of “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai”
The warmth of home, the innocence of childhood and the depth of friendship are captured in “Joy of Childlike Innocence” with delicate observation by Feng Zikai. He observes the world with a childlike heart full of sincere, free and pure feeling. Thus every stroke in his paintings reflects his earnest cherishment of life.
Feng Zikai, Kiss, 30x22.8cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Feng Zikai's Family
Feng Zikai, Father Returns Home, 30.1x22.7cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Feng Zikai's Family
Letters and handwritten scores of “The Last Rose of Summer” by Feng Zikai are also highlighted in this section. The former conveys his concern and expectations for his children, while the latter reconstructs his practice of “music lessons” in aesthetic education. These reveal the fact that Feng Zikai was not only an accomplished artist and educator but he was also a responsible father who infuses everyday life with wisdom, warmth and love.
Exhibition View of Zikai's Letters
Feng Zikai, Music Score of “The Last Rose of Summer”, 30.1x22.7cm
Exhibition View
The exhibition concludes with “Charm of Leisure” which features his pursuit of beauty in simple and idle life. With tranquil brushwork and serene composition, Feng painted, wrote and translated throughout his diligent life beyond fame and fortune. His art remains steadfast in the pursuit of the authenticity of human nature and charming fun of everyday life. The “refreshment” embodied in Feng’s works represents not merely an aesthetic style, but the very essence of his spiritual outlook. He observes life with calmness and engages gracefully with the world.
Feng Zikai, Apricot Blossoms in Spring, 30x22.8cm, Ink and color on paper, Collection of Feng Zikai's Family
Feng Zikai, Enjoying Flowers with Wine, 30.1x23.5cm, Ink and color on paperCollection of Feng Zikai's Family
A range of publication covering essays, comic collections, illustrations, translations as well as profound works on art theory and research supplement the exhibits. From a multi-dimensional perspective, visitors are encouraged to gain insight into Feng’s artistic and philosophical world.
Exhibition View of “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai”
Paying tribute to a cultural luminary in literature, painting, music and translation, “Endless Refreshment” reviews the life of Feng Zikai, a pioneer of modern Chinese cartoons, a leading figure in the transition of Chinese painting from tradition to modernity and the first director of Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy. In an era overloaded with information and pervasive anxiety, the “refreshment” vividly portrayed in this exhibition proves more important than ever.
Portrait of Feng Zikai (1898-1975)
Exhibition View of “Endless Refreshment: Art of Feng Zikai”
About the Exhibition
Dates: September 5-October 12, 2025
Venue: F1 and F2, Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy
Courtesy of Beijing Fine Art Academy, edited by CAFA ART INFO.
