On September 1, a comprehensive exhibition on Su Shi (1037-1101), a Chinese cultural icon of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), opened at the Palace Museum.
A total of 78 pieces or sets of exquisite works are on display at the exhibition, spanning a period from the Northern Song Dynasty through the modern era and covering calligraphy, paintings, epigraphy rubbings, objects, documents, and rare texts, according to the museum.
In addition to the extensive works by Su Shi himself, some exhibits are by his mentors and close friends, and others were created in later times by artists to pay tribute to him, helping profile a Su with multi-dimensional perspective and presenting a vivid and solid inner world of the illustrious literatus.
Su Shi has the remarkable achievements in poetry, painting, and calligraphy. He was also reputed for his optimism and open-mindedness in the face of setbacks in his political career, which informed his works of art and has become a cornucopia of inspiration for the following generations in China and areas in the vicinity.