A person takes a picture of the exhibit at the Nantong Modern and Contemporary Local Celebrities' Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Nantong Modern and Contemporary Local Celebrities' Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition opened at the special exhibition hall of Nantong Eminent Figures Museum in Nantong city, Jiangsu province, on Dec 28.

Organized by the Nantong Museum Alliance, the exhibition features over 110 calligraphy and painting works by modern and contemporary local celebrities in Nantong. Additionally, the collection pays tribute to renowned local figures like Sun Zhixia and Hu Hansheng.

Chen Bin, a faculty member at Nantong Normal College, shared his perspective after visiting the exhibition, emphasizing its significance as a repository of Nantong's artistic heritage which also bears the imprint of Nantong Normal College.

"Artists like You Wuqu, Qiu Shi, and Li Jilin are all alumni of our college, and I feel particularly close to their works," he said. " I previously knew a little about these celebrities, but through this calligraphy and painting exhibition, I've gained a greater understanding of the diverse artistic styles of Nantong's local celebrities and feel closer to their history, which in turn gives me insights into the history of Nantong. It also inspires us as successors to absorb their spirit and inherit their ideological and cultural legacy."

The exhibition will be on display until Jan 24. Subsequent exhibitions, such as Nantong Modern Local Celebrities' Correspondence Exhibition, are also scheduled for launch in the future.