Qi Gong exhibition opens at National Museum

An exhibition featuring the works of renowned Chinese calligrapher Qi Gong opened at the National Museum of China on July 26, to mark the late artist's 100th birthday.

The opening ceremony attracted hundreds of scholars, officials, media representatives and art lovers.

Until August 4, the National Museum of China and the Beijing World Art Museum will hold the joint exhibition with more than 200 of Qi's works.

Qi, who died in 2005, was a prominent educator, painter, and poet. Even though he studied with several well-known artists of his time, he developed a unique style of calligraphy, known as the "Qi Style."

Despite ancestral ties to the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Qi was known for not using his heritage to propel his career, instead using his talent to assist others regardless of their wealth or status.

Qi taught at the Beijing Normal University for decades. After his death the university gathered his works into a book called "Collected Works of Qi Gong", which opens a door for calligrapher lovers to walk into Qi's world.