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Qi Baishi was a renowned Chinese painter from Hunan. He received little formal schooling in childhood and first left his hometown at 40. He went to Beijing alone at 58 to work and live there. He built a reputation worldwide in his 80s and passed away at 95. Last year, his work Twelve Landscape Screens was sold for 980 million RMB, thus becoming the most expensive Chinese painting and calligraphy work ever in an auction around the globe.