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On the 6th, the Fo Guang Yuan Hsi Lai Art Gallery held the opening ceremony for the ""Exhibition of Freehand Flower and Bird Paintings by Qi Baishi's Disciples: Wencheng Zhang and Yuru Lin." The exhibition, featuring expressive freehand style paintings, is a joint effort by Wencheng Zhang, a third-generation direct disciple of Baishi Qi, and his student Yuru Lin. More than 40 attendees, including Venerable Hui Dong, abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, Venerable Hui Shiuan, director of the Fo Guang Yuan Hsi Lai Art Gallery, along with the artists' friends, family, and other visitors, participated in the event.
Wencheng Zhang, a contemporary artist based in the United States, is a disciple of Liangchi Qi (Baishi Qi’s second son) and Shishuang Fu. He is recognized as a leading figure in the expressive freehand painting genre.
In his opening speech, Venerable Hui Dong highlighted the role of art in today's fast-paced technological society. He pointed out that as technology rapidly changes our lives, people's minds become restless, and art serves as an excellent way to promote Dharma and help people find inner peace. He expressed hope that through these works, people could appreciate the beauty of the world and gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
Wencheng Zhang expressed his gratitude to Hsi Lai Temple for providing the venue for his first North America’s exhibition, marking a significant milestone in his 50-year painting career.
Yuru Lin shared that her achievements would not have been possible without her mentor's guidance and encouragement. Through painting traditional Chinese art, she has come to realize the importance of education. She emphasized that a great teacher not only leads students in artistic exploration but also provides continuous positive encouragement.
(Photos by Chihcheng Chang)
