Sun Yat-sen’s 1895 exile from China led him to establish a base of support in Japan. There, his revolutionary organizations, the Xingzhonghui and later the Tongmenghui, drew together like-minded Chinese exchange students studying abroad. His support was particularly strong among his fellow Cantonese, who were bound by ties of language and culture as well as idealism. Among them were a group of politically radical painters who later formed the Lingnan school, together with a number of noted calligraphers. Their work reflects the connections they formed while studying in Japan, and their allegiance to Sun’s revolutionary ideals.
above:
Yang Shanshen
below, left to right:
Ye Gongchuo, calligraphy
Gao Qifeng, "Falcon"
Gao Jianfu, "Sparrows"
Ye Gongchuo, calligraphy
Chen Shuren, "Bird and Flower painting"