The Cheng Shifa Art Museum is hosting the Urban Retreats: A Park-Themed Exhibition from the Collection of the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, open to the public until Oct 16.

The New Chinese Painting Movement, which emerged in the 1950s, encouraged artists to reflect contemporary life while integrating traditional Chinese painting with new realism. This era gave rise to a unique collection in modern Chinese art, with paintings centered on urban park landscapes. The park theme became a medium for balancing thematic creativity with artistic expression.

As a longstanding hub for the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, Shanghai offers a fitting backdrop for these park-themed works. Equipped with sketchbooks, artists visited locations like People's Park and Zhongshan Park to capture moments of citizens at leisure. Their works reflect both the vitality of nature and the subtleties of daily life, preserving traditional brushwork while incorporating modern elements.

Sketching is a crucial source of inspiration for park-themed artworks. The exhibition features diverse 1950s sketches of Shanghai's parks, including works by renowned landscape painters Zhu Qizhan and Lu Yanshao.

If you go

• Exhibition dates: July 29 to Oct 16 (Closed on Mondays except for public holidays)
• Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm (Last entry at 5 pm)
• Location: Cheng Shifa Art Museum (No 1398 Hongqiao Road)
• Admission: Free

Source: WeChat account of Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy at "paintingsh"