The year 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, a pioneer of China's national rejuvenation and a forerunner of its democratic revolution. As Sun Yat-sen's close comrades-in-arms and early members of the Tongmenghui (Chinese United League), Liao Zhongkai and He Xiangning dedicated their lives to the nation and its people, embracing the world with profound compassion. Their enduring legacy—preserved in works such as Poetry Drafts from the Shuangqing Pavilion, Collected Writings from the Shuangqing Pavilion, and He Xiangning's powerful paintings, which employ "the brush as a weapon" to depict pines, plum blossoms, lions, tigers, and mountains—reveals a spirit of "iron resolve and pure heart" deeply embedded within their artistic expression. On this significant occasion, the He Xiangning Art Museum proudly organizes and presents the "The Harmony of Aesthetics:National Art Museum Calligraphy Invitational Exhibition," employing art as a medium to reflect upon history and pay tribute to this revolutionary couple, whose unwavering commitment defined their service to the nation.

Though calligraphy is an art form, as a visual manifestation of the traditional Chinese cultural lineage, it embraces infinite diversities yet forges them into a unified aesthetic form. Among museum professionals, those who excel in calligraphy demonstrate exceptional aesthetic cultivation. Some follow the legacy of the Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Shanyin, achieving a balance between dignified elegance and fluid grace; others draw inspiration from monumental steles and ancient tablets, pursuing the realm of unadorned simplicity. In the act of appreciation and engagement, boundless interest and charm emerge. Yet art has always been the "art of culture" rather than merely the "technique of artistry." It represents the comprehensive embodiment of the creator's personal cultural cultivation and awareness of life. Throughout history, calligraphy has been intricately intertwined with painting, poetry, and literary theory, simultaneously revealing the unique ways successive generations of calligraphers have grasped formal interest and modes of appreciation, while also embodying the vibrant spirit of Chinese culture. Therefore, we adhere to benevolence and delight in the arts; true excellence in calligraphy emerges not from deliberate striving for perfection, but from effortless authenticity.

This exhibition brings together calligraphic works from colleagues across the nation's art museum community. It closely integrates revolutionary spirit with artistic creation, revisiting the "revolutionary epic" and "revolutionary historical paintings" of the couple Liao Zhongkai and He Xiangning through brush and ink. It further connects history with the present, endows revolutionary culture with new connotations of the times, and aims to foster a deeper appreciation of this shared memory of Chinese nation.

Little streams merge to form a great river. Bathed in the glow of the exhibition hall lights, each calligraphic work exudes tranquility and enduring grace. These works embody not only a profound pursuit of patriotism and devotion to home and nation, but also reflect the unwavering commitment of museum professionals in their ordinary posts. With diligent practice of brush and ink, they shoulder the historic mission of carrying forward the legacy and forging ahead into the future.