"Throwing away the bonds and limits of traditional ink-wash painting is easier said than done," Xie points out. "So I prefer those artists who retain the spirit of traditional ink-wash paintings in a new form."
For example, the fish series created by He Xi, a young local artist, combines traditional technique with an innovative art concept.
In one work, a sturgeon-like fish about the same diameter as his cylindrical jar, hangs suspended above the bottom containing concealed rock formations. The light-hued black and white, typical colors used in traditional ink-wash paintings, don't appear to be a cliche. Instead, the artist infuses the work with his own reflections on the ancient genre.
"I am like that fish in the bottle," he says with a smile, "No matter how hard I swim, I find I am always stuck in that bottle.
"But I am not pessimistic, and I accept the fact. So you see, my fish swims elegantly and enjoys its status," He says.
Date: through August 16, (closed Mondays), 9am-5pm
Address: 1199 Fuxing Rd M.
Editor: Feng Hui
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