Man of poetry

Qi Baishi (1864-1957), one of the pinnacle figures of modern

Chinese ink art, is best known for his paintings incorporating detailed depictions of insects and loose brushwork to portray plants, figures and landscapes. Qi himself said that of all his artistic output — including seal engraving, calligraphy and painting — he believed he was most accomplished in poetic composition. The four forms of art used to be seen as a whole, and an accomplished ink artist like Qi usually designed engraved seals himself and composed poems or verses on paintings to enrich their meaning. Baishi

Versifies, an exhibition at the Art Museum of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, focuses on Qi’s poetic attainments, which he valued greatly as a way to add depth to his paintings. Born to a destitute family, Qi had little schooling, and was self-taught in literature and art. His works on show, inspired by classic poems and inscribed with his own compositions, illustrate his long-term effort to combine the beauty of painting, poetry and calligraphy. The exhibition runs through to Nov 24.

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