In the early 1920s, the Lingnan Painting School with a slogan “Art Revolution” was born in the intense revolutionary atmosphere of the Guangdong. In a century of its development, a great number of excellent painters emerged. Founder of the School, namely Gao Jianfu, Chen Shuren and Gao Qifeng were members of the China Alliance Committee, who follow Dr. Sun Yat-sen in the early period of the revolution. Because of their advanced pursuit in politics and dissatisfaction in the conservative tradition of Chinese artists at that time, they also advocated an art revolution. They put forward the theory of “Compromise between Chinese and Foreign, in Ancient and Modern Time”, setting forth Chinese painters should learn from foreign painting skills. Huge momentum and influence were made among the art circle in China then. The second-generation representatives of the School like Guan Shanyue, Li Xiongcai, Zhao Shao’ang, Huang Shaoqiang and Yang Shanshen have inherited and developed the revolutionary thinking of its founders. They practiced its motto “Make the Past Serve the Present and Foreign Things Serve China” and opened a new page for the School with their individual styles, becoming outstanding icons in contemporary Chinese art circle.

The Lingnan School of Painting had been a group of artists with most innovative spirits in modern and contemporary Chinese art circle. They contributed enormously to the transformation and development of contemporary Chinese painting. The School’s concepts of revealing reality, facing common people and suiting both refined and popular tastes, still has practical significance today.

To promote art development in Lingnan area and let more and more people know about the School, we mastermind this exhibition, which is also part of the projects launched by the Ministry of Culture of China in 2012.