This month, a centenary retrospective of the Chinese mainland artist Huang Zhou opened, drawing crowds in the thousands and shining a light on his lifelong passion: the South China Sea.
Born in 1925 in a village in Hebei, Huang Zhou channeled the spirit of his journeys into dynamic sketches and paintings. By age 37, he had traveled across Xinjiang and Fujian, but it was his first trip to the South China Sea in 1962 that set the course for his most celebrated works.
He returned four more times, sketching frontline life during the defensive battles on the Xisha Islands and later serving as a cultural envoy of the PLA Political Department. From Hainan's shores to remote archipelago villages, Huang captured navy sailors, coastal communities and the rhythm of daily life—leaving behind hundreds of sketches and photos that form a living archive.
"Life is the source of inspiration," says his daughter, Liang Ying, whose recollections guide visitors through the exhibition. "He loved life—wherever he went, he fell in love with it."
Wu Hongliang, president of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, notes that the retrospective highlights Huang's many roles: soldier, husband, father, collector and founding member of the China National Academy of Painting. He also established the Yan Huang Art Museum, cementing his impact on China's fine arts scene.
Over five key sections, the exhibition showcases masterpieces that bring the waves of the Xisha Islands and the shores of Hainan to life—memories etched in ink and paint that continue to inspire new generations.
As crowds linger before each work, Huang Zhou's legacy resonates: a testament to the power of art to capture both joy and struggle, and a reminder that creativity knows no borders.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
