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Making ancient art relevant for modern audiences

Updated: 2020-06-05 08:18:13

( CHINA DAILY )

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A folding fan features landscape paintings by He Ting. [Photo provided to China Daily]

He Ting and Xiao Han were classmates at Shanghai Normal University, where they majored in traditional Chinese painting, an ancient art they were so enthralled with that they decided to make a career out of promoting it in the modern era.

After completing their graduate studies, the duo took on jobs, such as art editor or a lecturer at a school for the elderly, before realizing that the best way to promote the ancient art is to experiment with it themselves, as well as present it in a way that is relevant to younger generations.

The pair, both aged 30, are now full-time artists running their own studios for traditional Chinese paintings.

Traditional Chinese painting, dating back thousands of years, is usually created using ink and water-based colors on materials such as paper or silk.

Despite its long history, He and Xiao believe that the art, which usually evokes a sense of an idyllic life and tranquility, can still be seen as vibrant in today's busy world.

This concept of theirs is now being showcased in a collection of 28 paintings at the Shanghai Public Art Museum. The ongoing exhibition will end on July 5.

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