Everyone Is Qi Baishi
Water Connects, Art Field Nanhai 2026
Exhibition Dates: July 17, 2026 - January 3, 2027 (Public Participation Dates
Every Saturday and Sunday during the exhibition period)
Venue: Nanhai Silk Factory, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China
On July 17, Art Field Nanhai 2026 officially opened in Nanhai, Foshan, Guangdong. Under the theme “Water Connects,” INKstudio artist Yang Jiechang, together with artists Zeng Yongtao, Chen Tong, and Li Yanying, presents the participatory art project Everyone Is Qi Baishi at the Nanhai Silk Factory. As part of the project, Yang Jiechang and Chen Tong jointly present the collaborative artwork Return.
Over the past four decades of artistic practice, Yang Jiechang and Zeng Yongtao have sought to “wash away” the four years of formal training they received at art academy. Everyone Is Qi Baishi draws upon The Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting (Jieziyuan Huapu), a foundational manual in the history of Chinese painting, emphasizing memory and the practice of painting from memory as methods of artistic transmission. Through the traditional systems of apprenticeship and embodied learning, participants are encouraged to connect the movement of the hand with the inner mind, allowing artistic practice to become a process of perception, expression, and intuitive understanding. This approach reflects the traditional Chinese artistic concept of tongling (通灵) — a state in which the hand, mind, and image become interconnected through the act of creation.
From the perspective of artistic methodology, Chen Tong’s portrait sketching and comic practice also represent another form of “return.” His artistic experience, like traditional methods of painting and learning, can likewise be transmitted and shared, while placing greater emphasis on direct observation and engagement with everyday life.
Following the opening of the festival, Yang Jiechang and Chen Tong will collaborate with Zeng Yongtao and Li Yanying to present a series of artistic activities. Visitors are invited to enter the creative process at any time, becoming participants within the artwork — or even becoming a “Qi Baishi” themselves.
Brush and Ink Practice: “Give Me a Brush”
Under the invitation of “Give Me a Brush,” the programme encourages participants without formal artistic training to experiment with brush and ink, expressing their own cultural understanding and personal perspectives through traditional materials.
The activity is primarily based on the traditional Chinese practice of linmo (临摹) — a method of learning through close study, tracing, and internalizing established models within the lineage of Chinese painting — complemented by free creation. Throughout the process, the artists remain present to guide participants in understanding how brushwork can be used to observe objects, represent the world, and express personal thoughts and emotions.
Portrait Sketching
The portrait sketching programme begins with portraits of workers from the Nanhai Silk Factory. During the exhibition period, portraits of general visitors may also be created according to the circumstances on site. All completed sketches will be exhibited within the project space.
Appreciation of Can We Return? Comic Works
Through readings and appreciation of the comic work Can We Return?, audiences are invited to experience Chen Tong’s narrative practice. Visitors are also encouraged to create comics based on their own memories and everyday experiences, and to bring their works to the site for discussion and guidance from the artists. Selected works may remain on display within the project space.
The theme of Art Field Nanhai 2026, “Water Connects,” closely responds to Foshan’s vision for the development of the Two Rivers Demonstration Zone. Taking water as a spiritual and cultural connection, the festival explores the qualities of water — its movement, inclusiveness, softness, and strength — while recognizing water as the source of life and a symbol of prosperity.
According to Sun Qian, Artistic Director of Art Field Nanhai 2026: “The word ‘connects’ in the theme represents not only connection, but also movement and action. It reflects Nanhai’s open and inclusive invitation for the world to engage with this region. This year’s festival creates a relaxed and accessible atmosphere, strengthening interaction, diversity, and connections with local communities. From the visual identity to the artistic projects themselves, the festival seeks to allow art to truly reach the public and become integrated into everyday life.”
