On July 1, 2025, "Breaking a New Path: the Art Journey of Xu Guling" officially opened at the Guangzhou Museum of Art (GZMA).
The exhibition showcases the artistic evolution of Xu Guling, a Cantonese expatriate artist, through 154 selected works arranged in chronological order. These pieces span his 65-year-long artistic career, offering a comprehensive retrospective of his art journey. After the exhibition, all the works will be donated to GZMA.
The works on display include Xu's practice pieces from his youth, sketching works created during his overseas travels, creations on diverse themes, his most representative theatrical facial makeup paintings, as well as his freehand ink wash paintings in his later years. Among them, there are also several large-scale new works measuring over ten feet, created in the past two years, encompassing a wide range of types, including sketches, watercolors, Chinese paintings, and oil paintings.
Xu Guling is a renowned representative of Cantonese expatriate artists. Born in 1943 in Shanwei, Guangdong, a city famous for its theatrical heritage, he studied at the Art School of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in his youth, majoring in Chinese painting. After graduation, he worked in Guangzhou's cultural heritage sector for over a decade, engaging in publicity, exhibition display, and other related work. In the 1980s, he moved to Hong Kong and later traveled and created art in various regions around the world, during which he integrated and innovated based on traditional Chinese ink wash art. Around 2000, Xu returned to his homeland. Now, at the age of 82, he lives in Guangzhou, continuing his artistic creation.
Visitor Information:
Opening Hours: 10:00-18:30 (Last entry at 18:00. Closed on Mondays, except for public holidays)
Exhibition Period: from July 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025
Venue: Halls 15, 16, and 17, 4th Floor, Guangzhou Museum of Art (广州艺术博物院)
Address: Exit B of Chigang Pagoda (赤岗塔站) Metro Station, No. 198 Yiyuan Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou (广州市海珠区艺苑路198号)
Editor | Liao Ying (intern), Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
Photo | Guangzhou Museum of Art
