Returning to the quiet wisdom of ancient China

One of the reasons that first inspired Lin Xi to mount an exhibition about the Chinese way of living was the transformation she observed among her friends. "From a certain age onward, they began drinking tea, practicing calligraphy, and taking up traditional arts such as the guqin, a plucked string instrument," she says.

She adds that they seemed to have developed an unspoken understanding: a desire to return to traditional Chinese aesthetics and embrace ancient pastimes passed down through generations.

The Art of Living — A Survey of Eastern Aesthetics, which opened on Aug 22 at a space in Beijing's bustling China World Mall, grew out of these observations. For Lin, the exhibition offers a serene retreat for both mind and heart. The two-story space has been transformed into a series of traditional Chinese scholars' studios, where paintings, calligraphic works, wooden furniture in the classical Chinese style, and decorative cultural objects are seamlessly integrated into every corner.