Ink-wash paintings show explores urban landscape fusing tradition and modernity

The exhibition "City Composition via Ink and Wash" is showing at the China Art Museum through December 15.

Organized by the Shanghai Artists Association, China Art Museum, and Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, the exhibition features nearly 100 artworks and related historical materials from 43 teachers and students at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts.

Supported by China National Arts Fund, the exhibition attempts to forward a series of questions about the future of "Urban Landscape."

The ink-wash paintings on display not only reflect the artist's unique perspective and profound understanding toward cities, but also skillfully blends the hustle and bustle with tranquility, prosperity with simplicity, and modernity with tradition in the city under their brushstrokes.

"The concept of 'Urban Landscape' was formed at the end of the 1990s, against the backdrop of China's rapid urbanization and social transformation," said Ceng Chenggang, director of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts.

"Since then, artists have tried to use traditional ink painting technique to mirror the modern landscapes and life."

At the beginning, "Urban Landscape" focuses on the subject of modern city, trying to reflect its architecture, landscape and life via the traditional Chinese landscape painting technique.

However, under the rapid development of the era, today "Urban Landscape" is regarded as an art form that combines the depth of traditional culture with the expression of modernity, focusing on the changes in social relations and humanistic emotions brought by urbanization.

Some of the veteran artists including Chen Jialing, Le Zhenwen, and Feng Yuan, whose paintings are shown at the exhibition, manifest the charm of the ancient ink-wash art form in depicting the modern subjects.

Urban symbols such as skyscrapers, neon lights, and transportation networks are seen in the paintings, and some in abstract compositions with more experimental and contemporary touch.

Artist Hong Jian swiftly uses traditional techniques to reflect the mottled walls, weather-beaten bricks, and tiles under the shadows of the trees, as if "digging out" the city's history and humanistic memories embedded in them.

Exhibition Info:

Date: Through December 15, 10am-6pm (closed on Mondays)

Address: 205 Shangnan Rd

Admission: Free