Dreaming of Jiangnan

In commemorating the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to China, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, the Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Shanghai-Macau Economic Cultural Development Association jointly organized the “Dreaming of Jiangnan — The 4th Art Exhibition of Shanghai Culture & Tourism”.
The Art Exhibition of Shanghai Culture and Tourism series has been successfully held in Macao in the past three years. It aims to promote the rich traditions of the Chinese history and culture, and to enhance Macao peoples’ understanding and awareness of the history and culture of China and that of Shanghai as well as the historical development of the city. It is hoped that the citizens in Macao can explore the trajectory of Shanghai’s development by glimpsing into the historical context of the city through the exhibition.
With ‘Dreaming of Jiangnan’ being the title of the exhibition, a total of 40 Shanghai Haipai style, colour ink paintings from the four series – "The Poetry of the Ancient Town", "The Village of Smoke and Rain", "Dreams of the South of the Yangtze River" and “The Delicacies of the Earthly Life" – by the well-known Shanghainese artist Li Shoubai will be displayed from the 15th of October to the 15th of November. These works showcase the elegant style and spirit of Haipai art and the Jiangnan culture, manifested by the artist’s way of thinking, seeing and feeling. The exhibition invites its audiences, including the citizens and students in Macao, to step into the distinctive charm of Jiangnan through the ancient alleys and small towns, tranquil streams and enchanting bridges, each of which hold a unique story of Jiangnan that are poetically depicted in the artist’s works.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to China. By bringing the Shanghai Haipai works to the public, the exhibition aspires to allow people in Macau to enjoy the unique charm of the water town of Shanghai, to recognise the cultural features of different regions of the motherland, and to enhance their sense of identity and national sentiments towards its beautiful landscape. The organiser also aims to further promote the cultural development and cooperation between Shanghai and Macao and deepen international exchanges in the humanities and arts. It also strives to exert Macao’s role as a bridge for exchange and cooperation with ‘Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of diversified cultures’ so as to jointly promote the inheritance and development of the Chinese national culture.

Li Shoubai (李守白) b. 1962, Shanghai. Chinese contemporary artist and paper cutting master. He holds several positions on the main associations and organizations that promote fine and liberal arts in Shanghai, including Vice-Director of the Paper Cutting Committee of the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Association, Vice-Chairman of Shanghai Federation of Literature and Art Circle, Chairman of the Shanghai Folk Literature and Art Association, Committee Member CPPCC National Committee of Shanghai, Representative leading figure for the intangible cultural heritage-- Haipai Paper Cutting, Guest Professor of East China Normal University and Shanghai Art & Design Academy, and Founder and Art Director of Shanghai Shoubai Cultural & Art Co,Ltd.. During his forty years’ artistic career, he created more than 1500 masterpieces and held or participated in more than 40 exhibitions held in France, Germany, Austria, Singapore, Japan, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and so on, including the Shanghai Art Fair 17 times. He won more than 10 golden awards and several honorary titles, such as “Cultural Heritage Day Award” entitled by the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the 2020 Chinese Meritorious Paragon of inheritance and innovation in "Intangible Cultural Heritage " etc. His artworks are part of national and international collections such as the Grand Halls, Shanghai Museum of Fine Arts, Shanghai Municipal Archives, Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Hall, Paper Cutting Museum of China, CITIC Square, Lettera 27 Milan, Shanghai Grand Theatre Gallery, Starbucks Management Headquarters, Licht Ins Dunkel Austrian Organization.