The exhibition also includes works created during Ya Ming's travels abroad, many executed using traditional Chinese brushes and ink.

Through these pieces, the artist explored landscapes beyond China, demonstrating that the expressive language of Chinese painting could extend across cultures and geographies. As he observed, the essence and character of landscapes from different regions can all be conveyed through the same artistic medium. Chinese painting, he believed, is not confined by national borders, but is capable of capturing the forms, atmospheres and customs of the wider world. In his words, it allows the artist to "speak for the mountains and rivers".

For Ma, the works on display function almost like "messages carried across time". From depictions of China's rivers and peaks to sketches of distant lands, they resemble postcards sent from another era — fragments of journeys that continue to resonate today. They invite viewers to share in the places Ya Ming visited, the scenes he encountered, the reflections he gathered along the way, and the joy of making new friends.

Xue Liang, director of the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy, notes that the exhibition forms part of the institution's ongoing 20th-century Chinese art masters series. "It's long-term research, with focused exhibitions that begin with individual artists, extend to their contemporaries, and situate them within the broader currents of their time. Through this process, we are able to feel the pulse of modern Chinese art."

Contact the writer at linqi@chinadaily.com.cn