In the 1950s, Japan, the United States, and Europe sought to transcend pre-war geometric abstraction and conceptualism through the ideas of calligraphic quality and chance operations, resulting in a cosmopolitan art movement interweaving modernism and Orientalism. The global recognition of Chinese artist Qin Feng is based on this backdrop.

As a successor to this cosmopolitan art movement, Qin Feng has transformed Chinese calligraphy into a form of cross-cultural abstract painting, pushing the practice of brush and ink to new heights, ultimately becoming one of the most widely collected contemporary artists by museums and art institutions.

Qin Feng's work is grounded in ink wash as a fundamental language, and its themes are inextricably linked to the rise and fall of human civilization amidst changing circumstances, as well as to a profound exploration of the transformation of human values and beliefs. The recurring circular and arc-like lines carry philosophical metaphors of cycles; continuous red lines frequently appear in his works, connecting ancient and modern, Eastern and Western, memory and history, civil order and primal desire, while also releasing notions of harmony and complexity.

Returning to the foundations of this movement—calligraphy and Zen Buddhism in China—it wasn't until the 1980s and 1990s that this movement truly began to manifest as a delayed modernist practice, gradually triggering the most significant trend in contemporary Chinese art history over the past several decades— "Chinese Expressionism." This trend emphasizes a retrospective and return to Eastern culture, distilling the spirit of the past into the voices of today.

As a pioneer of "Chinese Expressionism," Zhang Fangbai has developed a language of his own—one of black and white—that constructs a structure distinct from Western Abstract Expressionism. His stagnant brushstrokes and clustered ink marks create a framework that exists between the tangible and intangible, the virtual and real, as eagles, jars, and towers coalesce into totemic symbols through the artist's countless repetitions.

Both artists, through their powerful spirit and works, remind us to reflect on the origins of civilization, while also demonstrating that abstract ink wash still holds limitless possibilities and expressive power. The exhibition runs from October 25 to November 30; we welcome you to visit.