As autumn deepens, FQM is pleased to present the year-end group exhibition, Ink and Inspiration.

At the heart of East Asian painting and calligraphy is a deep understanding of the “brush,” and inseparable from that is the use of “ink.” Together, brush and ink have given rise to artistic traditions that have evolved over thousands of years and continue to influence the modern world today. This dynamic interplay between simplicity and complexity—depth and breadth—creates endless possibilities, much like the ancient game of Go, where simple rules lead to infinite strategies. The theme of this exhibition is drawn from a plaque by Yang Renkai, titled Ink and Inspiration. Yang Renkai was a prominent member of the appraisal team that authenticated Chinese paintings and calligraphy in the early years of the People’s Republic of China. He conducted extensive research on priceless works lost from the Forbidden City during the late Qing dynasty, rediscovering treasures like Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Remarkably, he even pieced together Mi Fu’s masterpiece Poems on the Tiao Creek from scraps of paper. In 1975, Yang Renkai visited the U.S. to study Chinese paintings and calligraphy in American museums, and he wrote widely about his findings. He also viewed private collections in the U.S., gaining a deep appreciation for how these works were treasured abroad. In 2006, at the age of 91, Yang Renkai created the current work, demonstrating his lifelong dedication to brush and ink. His work serves as a reflection of FQM’s long-standing mission to celebrate these artistic traditions.