Ink-wash modernity and Oriental abstract art

A joint exhibition held by Li Geng and Shuang Ning kicks off tomorrow at Long Art Museum, focusing on the modernity in ink-wash painting and the direction of Oriental abstract work.

Li Geng, a renowned abstract artist on rice-paper and scholar, is the son of Li Keran (1907-1989), a heavyweight name in China’s modern art history.

Born in 1950 in Beijing, Li Geng learnt ink-wash painting from his father at an early age. He was tutored under a series of Chinese masters such as Huang Miaozi (1913-2012) and Huang Yongyu.

Since 1986, Li has taught at Kyoto University of Art & Design. Equipped with a solid background of Chinese traditional folk art and European classical art, the 69-year-old is well versed in the differences and similarities between Eastern and Western cultures in their related areas.

For years, Li is engaged in exploring the relationship between music and painting, seeking the similarity of the two different art forms.

For example, his series named “Mahler’s The Song of the Earth” aims to reflect the grandeur of Western classical symphony through ink-wash language on rice-paper.

Here the rhythm of the music and the brushstrokes seem to collide with each other.

Different from Li Geng, Shuang Ning is not trained as an artist. He used to work in the financial area, but Shuang switched his interest to art in recent years and pursued a path of oriental abstract painting.

Exhibition info

Date: Through January 12 (closed on Mondays), 10am-5pm

Venue: Long Art Museum

Address: 3398 Longteng Ave

Courtesy of Long Art Museum

Courtesy of Long Art Museum