Reclusive spirit

How eccentric were the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, a loosely associated group of artists active in 18th-century Yangzhou in Jiangsu province? Clues and answers can be found in an ongoing exhibition devoted to Jin Nong, the central figure of this group of painters, known for his uniquely unorthodox style. A Reclusive Spirit amid the Mundane, an exhibition at Zhejiang Art Museum in Hangzhou, Jin's hometown, traces his life and artistic evolution through works drawn from several museum collections. Although reputed in his youth for his literary and calligraphic accomplishments, Jin didn't focus on painting until he turned 50. Living among the hustle and bustle of Yangzhou, a prosperous commercial hub where Jin earned his living by selling art, at heart, he remained detached from worldly concerns, a temperament vividly presented in his unconventional strokes. The exhibition runs until March 15.

9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 138 Nanshan Lu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. 0571-8707-8700.