In recent years, the National Art Museum of China has strengthened its efforts to carry out researches into the collections and promote the exhibition for the purpose of combining the value of the collections and current artistic creation and cultural development.

The year of 2014 marks the 170th birthday anniversary of Wu Changshuo, a great master in the artistic circle. A great variety of memorial and research activities have been carried out across the country especially in Shanghai and the southern region of the Yangtze River.

NAMOC has selected a number of collections of freehand flower-and-bird paintings created by some famous painters who are the disciples of Wu Changshuo or painters influenced by him. The exhibition is expected to pay tribute to Wu Changshuo and reflect comparative studies on different styles of the history of the painting. 

The exhibition comprises a total of more than 100 pieces of artworks created by 16 masters in the 20th century including Qi Baishi, Pan Tianshou, Chen Shizeng, Wang Zhen, Zhao Yunhe, Zhu Qizhan, Wang Geyi, Chen Banding, Lai Chusheng, Wu Fuzhi, Zhu Lesan, Li Kuchan, Wang Mengbai, Wang Xuetao, Yu Xining and Cui Zifan. The show comprising two major regions including both the southern region of the Yangtze River and the northern region, is intended to draw an outline of the freehand flower-and-bird paintings of the 20th century boasting originality and magnificence.

Fan Di’an, NAMOC director, believes that the exhibition is intended to help the masses feel the internal life of the traditional paintings in order to inspire modern vitality of traditional Chinese culture to evolve to the modern times and disseminate positive ethnic spirit and timely spirit.