Artworks of Chinese painter Qi Baishi now on display in San Francisco

Art enthusiasts in San Francisco are getting their first glimpse of the masterpieces by one of China's most renowned painters, Qi Baishi (1864-1957), through a special exhibition at the Asian Art Museum.

The exhibition titled "Qi Baishi: Inspiration In Ink" opened in the city in mid-December 2024, to mark the 160th anniversary of the artist's birth, and will stay open until April 7, 2025.

"Qi Baishi is one of the most important Chinese artists in the 20th century, and his artworks actually created lots of auction records. Qi Baishi, actually in the 1940s, 50s, was regarded as one of the avant garde artists and very contemporary, and also [he] refashioned, revitalized Chinese traditional ink painting," said Zhang Fan, curator of Chinese Art at the Asian Art Museum.

His work is being viewed as a bridge between Chinese ink painting and Western audiences. The exhibition marks the first time the 40 works of Qi Baishi are being shown in the U.S.

Enjoying the exhibition are art enthusiasts and artists, too, like painter Gary Bukovnik.

"It makes it look like, oh, I could do that, except it takes a lifetime to know how to just make it look like it doesn't take any effort whatsoever," Bukovnik said.

Qi's ink paintings depict ordinary moments and scenes, capturing the essence of nature's beauty and the delight found in life's simplest pleasures.

Among the works on display is a painting that depicts an everyday scene of an old man sending a tearful child to school.

"I was looking at this because I was a teacher. And so I thought a youngster going to school with a parent or grandparent. It's just like so typical of the family taking the children to school and then, okay, be good and learn all you can and all that. So, education and all that is so critical," said Betty Meissner, one of the visitors.

"I like the story that he told, how he came to paint the abacus, pursuing wealth without harming others," said Sally Whitehead, another visitor, observing the painting titled "Abacus".

Artworks of Chinese painter Qi Baishi now on display in San Francisco

China's alcohol market is becoming increasingly appealing to foreign brands due to its diversified consumer base, rich spirits culture and complete digital ecosystem.

The Macallan, a renowned Scotch whisky brand under leading global spirits company Edrington Group, is focusing on strengthening its presence in China and leveraging its experience in the country to expand globally.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Francois Saurel, Regional Managing Director of Edrington for the Asia Pacific, shared his views on the Chinese market and factors that influence their strategies.

"China is very important for us, it has always been, and it's even more and more year after year. The immense opportunity of the market, the passion that the Chinese consumers, the Chinese clientele is showing for whisky, looks unstoppable," said Saurel.

The lion's share of China's liquor consumption is occupied by its traditional distilled spirit -- baijiu. For The Macallan, this apparent challenge is an opportunity in disguise.

"Actually, we don't see that as a competition at all. To the contrary, we see that as a very positive foundation for the future development of our brand, because if baijiu is so important in China, it's because spirits play a pivotal role in Chinese culture. It's about this kind of mediation, helping the conversation, the deepened conversation, the friendship, the social gathering of the Chinese clientele," he said.

Meanwhile, China's advanced digital ecosystem has also helped the brand grow, he stressed.

"Digital ecosystem is something very important. China is really where the digital is at the level of sophistication, which is on top in the rest of the world, unmatched in the rest of the world. And here we have advanced our capabilities in terms of platform, but also in term of resources, to make the most of that opportunity to engage with the Chinese clientele," Saurel said.

Scotch whisky brand sees opportunity in China's spirited liquor culture