Experiments in ink art at city show
An exhibition featuring contemporary ink paintings is underway at the museum of the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts (SIVA) until the end of September.
The paintings were created by participants in SIVA's Contemporary Ink Artists Summit Program, which began last year.
Co-organized by the Academy of Contemporary Ink Art, the one-year program aims to “free” contemporary ink from the shackles of traditional technique. About 15 members are taking part in the program, their ages ranging from 19 to 70.
The exhibition showcases what the students have learned in the past year.
Besides the exhibition, an academic committee has also been established to comment on the paintings in the exhibition.
“Similar to scientists, artists also have their own creative thoughts and want to reflect them via their works. However, what if the traditional old technique or media can’t fully implement such thoughts? Then the artists would do their experiments. In my eyes, an artist’s studio is not merely a venue to produce artworks, but instead, an experimental lab,” said Liu Guosong, director of the ink art academy.
Perhaps because of the experimental nature of contemporary ink art, different tutors give different thoughts to students in the program, some are even contradictory, Liu said.
“That’s not bad, as it leaves them a bigger scope to ponder,” he said.
He Xi, one of the top contemporary ink artists in China and a member of the academic committee, said: “Contemporary art doesn’t mean to abandon all traditional things. Contemporary art focuses on concepts, and one’s experience or emotion could still be mirrored through traditional technique. The problem is how to use various techniques to express what one really feels.”
Lin Mingjie, head of the academic committee, said: “These paintings at the exhibition may not be perfect, but they reveal the courage and creativity of the students in pursuing the path of contemporary ink art.”
"Dreaming" by Du Hua
"Leaving Empty" by Xu Yuankai
