Conforming to the norm has never been Zhu Jingyi’s stand on contemporary Chinese art. The artist’s forthcoming first solo exhibition in Hong Kong is a perfect example of how he uses his imagination, new application of the medium and understanding of the principles of mechanics to bring about a breakthrough in the tradition of Chinese ink painting.

Zhu received professional ink painting training at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Since year 2010, he has carried out experiments by replacing rice paper and ink brush with linen and acrylic paint in his series ‘Three- dimensional Ink’. Zhu has mastered the skill of manipulating the acrylic to mirror the spontaneity, vigor and refinement in ink painting. The works featured in his debut Hong Kong exhibition number only eleven yet all of them are exquisite pieces and prime examples of the achievement in his experiment. Whether it is his sansui (Chinese landscape painting), gonshi (scholars’ rocks ), cloud or pure abstract form, Zhu demonstrated the perfect balance of Yin and Yang (dark and light), the significance of empty space, and seven shades of black – the essence of Chinese ink painting.

About the Artist:

Born in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China, Zhu Jingyi graduated from the Department of Fine Arts in Nanjing Normal University and then attained his Master Degree in Arts Management in Central Academy of Fine Arts. He worked as Academic Director in Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art and was later appointed as the Art Director of Zendai Art S-Supermarket. His works have been shown in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Changzhou, Singapore and Tokyo. His artworks have fetched high prices at Rongbaozhai (Shanghai) Auction and Lan Ting Auction in China. The artist currently lives in Shanghai.

Image: © Zhu Jingyi Marshall, Karin Weber Gallery