"Chinese Cultural Figures" (Special Issue for the Two Sessions)Li Geng：Carrying Forward the Chinese Cultural Context through Innovation and Creation



The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026.



Warm Congratulations on the Grand Opening of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China and the Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Chinese cultural figures (Reporter Ma Jiangping)Carrying forward the Chinese cultural context is an essential requirement for building a strong nation and achieving national rejuvenation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need to "make dedicated efforts to carry forward the Chinese cultural legacy and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of China'sfine traditional culture" . He has also urged cultural workers in the new era to "uphold integrity and pursue innovation with integrity and courage, carry forward the historical cultural legacy, and compose brilliant chapters of the contemporary era". These important statement profoundly indicates that carrying forward the Chinese cultural legacy is by no means a simple replication of traditional culture, but rather innovation while upholding integrity and creation in the process of inheritance, enabling the ancient civilization to thrive with vigorous vitality in the new era. The core secret why Chinese civilization has become the only ancient civilization in the world that has never been interrupted lies in the fact that successive generations have firmly upheld its cultural roots, boldly pursued innovation, and ensured the continuous and enduring development of its cultural legacy through creative transformation and innovative development.
The continuity of Chinese cultural context cannot be achieved without the dedicated practice of generations of great artists. Mr. Li Keran was a master who bridged the past and future in  painting. At a critical juncture when Chinese painting faced confusion, Li Keran, with a strong sense of responsibility and diligent practice, broke the six-century-old rigid framework of Chinese landscape painting and elevated traditional landscape art to new heights. He refreshed the visual experience of ink painting through on-site sketching, meticulously refined brushwork and composition, and redefined the artistic conception of landscapes through the interplay of black and white. By integrating the grandeur of the Northern School with the grace of the Southern School, he resolved the century-long divide between the Northern and Southern traditions of landscape painting and eventually established the unique paradigm known as the "Li School Landscape". His artistic philosophy of "mastering tradition deeply and breaking new ground bravely" embodies profound reverence for tradition and a bold pursuit of innovation. It has set an model for the inheritance and development of Chinese painting and provided later generations with spiritual guidance to carry forward the cultural legacy.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Mr. Li Geng, President of the Li Keran Academy of Painting, stays rooted in tradition while embracing global perspectives. Through upholding tradition and fostering innovation, he shoulders the mission of carrying forward the Chinese cultural legacy, emerging as a contemporary artist with both profound traditional grounding and international vision. Born in Dayabao Hutong, a neighborhood steeped in artistic legacy, he grew up immersed in an environment teeming with masters. Under the guidance of renowned artists like Li Keran, Li Kuchan, and Huang Yongyu, he not only mastered the fundamentals of brushwork but also inherited their rich artistic ethos and patriotic spirit. Renowned early in his career, he remains committed to diligent study and keeps honing his foundation. Such reverence for and devotion to tradition has become the defining hallmark of his artistic journey.
Going global marked a vital elevation in Li Geng's artistic creation, and more importantly, it was the necessary path for him to understand tradition and explore innovation. At the age of thirty, he went to Japan for further studies, and later lectured on Oriental art at the University of Munster in Germany . With more than thirty years of overseas experience, he was able to look back at Chinese ink painting from the perspective of the world art coordinate system. He delved into the essence of Sino-Japanese cultural integration and gained insight into the core of Western artistic creation, and drew nourishment from comparative reflection while always upholding the spiritual origin of Chinese painting. This unique experience enabled him to grasp the freehand spirit of traditional ink wash, appreciate the aesthetic appeal of world art, and master how to make Chinese ink painting communicate with the world.
True inheritance lies in innovative breakthroughs that "stem from a legacy yet transcend its form". Li Geng, inheriting the spirit of his father's generation, did not confine himself to the established framework of "Li School Landscape"; instead, he has explored the boundless possibilities of ink painting with courage and wisdom. He deeply integrates the traditional Chinese freehand spirit with contemporary artistic concepts, moving freely between figurative and abstract expression. His masterpiece "Song of the Earth" further fused the poetic imagery of Tang poetry, Western symphony, and ink art into one. Through the flowing splashes of ink and water, and the interweaving of lines and forms, diverse civilizations and art forms blend and coexist in his brushwork, realizing a contemporary transformation of the traditional Chinese cultural spirit. He has long been at the forefront of cultural exchange between China and the world, building bridges of communication through art exhibitions. He lets the charm of Chinese ink painting shine on the global stage, ensuring the continuity of Chinese cultural context in cross-cultural exchanges.
From Li Keran to Li Geng, the father and son lineage not only inherits the brush and ink techniques but also carries forward the original aspiration of cultural continuity and the responsibility of upholding tradition while pursuing innovation. Li Geng's artistic journey vividly reflects the inheritance of Chinese cultural context in the new era: only by rooting oneself in tradition can one hold fast to the foundation; only by daring to innovate can one forge ahead steadily and achieve lasting success.
The cultural context endures and thrives through the ages. Only by upholding integrity and pursuing innovation can we achieve lasting success. In this new era, cultural development urgently calls for practitioners like Li Geng, who anchor themselves in reverence for tradition, embrace the world with unwavering dedication to innovation, and achieve creation through inheritance and sublimation through integration. Only in this way will Chinese cultural heritage stay forever dynamic, Chinese culture stand tall amid the tide of progress, and robust cultural strength fuel the great rejuvenation of the nation.

(Web editor: Liu Sheng, Zhang Yan)