The Liu Haisu Art Museum in Changning district has opened a long-awaited exhibition, Scenting the Trail, showcasing his explorations in the flower-and-bird style of classic Chinese painting. Works on display, including Lotus of Thick Stems and Big Leaves, feature both ink and oil, reflecting Liu's pioneering effort to blend Eastern and Western art traditions.

The exhibition brings together representative works from the museum's permanent collection alongside rare historical pieces, tracing the artistic lineage and cultural context that shaped Liu's creative journey. It also presents masterpieces by earlier artists who inspired him, from Tang Dynasty (618-907) painter Bian Luan and Song Dynasty (960-1279) master Huang Jucai to scholar-artist Shen Zhou in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Divided into three thematic sections, the exhibition highlights key pillars of Chinese art education: study through copying classical models, observation from nature, and artistic innovation based on individual expression.

If you go:

When: Now-Aug 28, 2026

Where: Liu Haisu Art Museum (No 1609 West Yan'an Road)

Entry: Free admission

Source: WeChat account of Shanghai Changning media center at "shchangning"