He was the "Role Model" of the People's Republic of China,
And he is also hailed as the "Pioneer of Design in P.R.C."...
He shaped the visual memory of the Republic,
Capturing the light and shadow of that era with his brushes.
Prof. Zhou Lingzhao passed away at the age of 104, on January 3, 2023. Prior to his death, he had solemnly decided to donate 221 of his works to the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. With the careful organization by his beloved daughter, Prof. Zhou Rong, and the support and promotion of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, this collection of works was systematically sorted and academically presented at CAFA Art Museum."Painted in the Depths of Time: The Exhibition of Works Donated by Zhou Lingzhao" was not only a generous donation to CAFA Art Museum, but it's also an artistic commitment and spiritual resonance transcending time and space.
A Guided Tour of the Exhibition
The Donation Ceremony was held at CAFA Art Museum on March 12, 2026. The collection of 221 works covers various categories such as watercolor, gouache, sketches, comic strips, murals, propaganda posters, and designs, spanning over half of a century from 1938 to 2008, encompassing his seventy years of artistic practice. Attending the opening ceremony were Lin Mao, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Yu Yang, Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Zhou Rong, a representative of Prof. Zhou Lingzhao's family, the leadership team of CAFA Art Museum, as well as the heads of the exhibition planning and collection teams. Gao Gao, Deputy Director of CAFA Art Museum, served as the host.
Lin Mao, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, presented a donation certificate to Prof. Zhou Rong.
The Group Photo of Honored Guests
Yu Yang, Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, addressed at the ceremony.
Yu Yang, Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, on behalf of CAFA, expressed sincere gratitude and high respect to Prof. Zhou Rong and his family. He stated that the generous donation from Prof. Zhou's family was not only a profound affection for CAFA but also a tremendous support and valuable asset to the cause of higher art education in China.
Zhou Rong, Prof. Zhou's daughter and a representative of his family, addressed at the ceremony.
Zhou Rong, Prof. Zhou's daughter and a representative of his family, said that the exhibition made her feel particularly natural and warm, just like her father's character when he was alive.
Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum, addressed at the ceremony.
Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum, paid sincere tribute to Prof. Zhou Lingzhao in his speech. He mentioned that Prof. Zhou is one of the foremost Chinese artists of the 20th century and a model among the senior generation of artists. He made outstanding contributions to the construction of the national image of the People's Republic of China and has set an example for generations of art practitioners.
Gao Gao, Deputy Director of CAFA Art Museum, served as the host of the ceremony.
"Painted in the Depths of Time: The Exhibition of Works Donated by Zhou Lingzhao" provides us with key clues for understanding Prof. Zhou Lingzhao's creative trajectory and working methods. Also, it encourages visitors to return to his creative scenes, to perceive his artistic spirit in the details and structures of his works, and further to interpret his unique visual language and expressive system. May everyone, in the "depths of time," regain that enduring clarity, steadfastness, and warmth; and may this spirit continue to inspire today's art practitioners in classrooms, creation, and life, making them constantly reflect on how to find their own brushstrokes and brilliance on the canvas of our era.
Exhibition ViewCourtesy of CAFA Art Museum, edited (EN) by CAFA ART INFO.
About the Exhibition
Painted in the Depths of Time: The Exhibition of Works Donated by Zhou Lingzhao
Dates: January 27–March 15, 2026
Venue: Gallery 3A, CAFA Art Museum
Organizer: CAFA Art Museum
Supporters: CAFA School of Mural Painting and CAFA School of Design
Specially Invited Advisors | Han Meilin, Zhang Qiman, Sun Jingbo, Zhou Rong
Academic Advisors | Tang Hui, Zhou Bo
Exhibition Director | Jin Jun, Han Wenchao
Exhibition Coordinator | Gao Gao, Hai Jun
Curator | Ji Yujie
Design Director | Wang Tianning
