2024 China Baotou Art Fair kicks off in style

The 2024 China Baotou Art Fair kicked off in style at the Baotou International Convention and Exhibition Center – located in Baotou city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – on July 12.

The fair, which runs to July 15, features collections and the latest creations from major galleries, art institutions and artists nationwide.

From classical calligraphy to modern sculptures and from national intangible cultural heritage to cultural creative works, the diverse exhibits are said to be dazzling visitors.

The art expo features seven main categories – including master calligraphy and paintings, intangible cultural heritage prints, photography, cultural creative works and folk collections. Over the course of four days, it promises to deliver an innovative, diverse and artistic feast for both residents and visitors.

More than 40 cultural units, galleries, art institutions and over 100 artists from across the country have gathered at the event.

Among the participants is Rongbaozhai – a renowned art institution with a rich history dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). There's also the Beijing Palace Museum Cultural Communication Co, as well as the Fine Arts Department of Art Development Center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Employees from the Cultural and Creative Hall of The Palace Museum participating in the fair said they brought some 158 cultural creative products to the fair.

These include a range of products known as the "A Thousand Miles Landscape", "Everything Goes Well" and the popular "Palace Museum Cats" series. In particular, visitors can check out a product called the "First Scroll of the A Thousand Miles Landscape", priced at around 10,000 yuan ($1,376).

Over 2,000 works are also being displayed, including original works by leading modern and contemporary Chinese artists like Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian. The fair also features masterpieces by contemporary calligraphers and painters from the China Artists Association and the China Calligraphers Association.

Additionally, there are artworks on show by professors from well-known art colleges across China – as well as ceramics and purple clay masterpieces, paintings and sculptures by top contemporary artists, photographic works by famous photographers and intangible cultural heritage items.

The fair also showcases cultural creative products from famous institutions. It's holding themed cultural salons on "Developing New Cultural Heights in the New Era" and has invited art masters to create on-site, as well as creatively selling artworks through offline and online platforms.

What's more, it aims to promote the prosperity of the art market and to support Baotou in becoming a well-known hub in North China for art creation, exhibitions, appreciation, collections and trade.

In the Inner Mongolia and Baotou exhibition area at the fair, artworks such as the Arhat series and modern works combining Eastern and Western styles by Inner Mongolia local painter Hai Rihan are highlighted. Various styles of paintings by artists from Hohhot and the Baotou Artists Association have also attracted big attention.

Artist Hai Rihan said he was positive about the future of art in his city. "The integration of various arts and the infiltration of various cultures are invaluable for the development of our country's culture," he said.

"I hope that the culture of Baotou, such as the grassland culture, can be promoted through the efforts of artists and I hope that the cultural prosperity of Baotou will continue," he added.