The enigma of ink

Wu says that among the many great artists in history whom Qi studied, these three illuminated the xieyi (drawing the spirit) tradition of classic Chinese painting, and nourished Qi the most in his own attempts at xieyi.

To showcase the evolution of art practiced by the four painters and compare their creative works, Wu's colleagues reached out to museums and cultural institutions across the country to borrow their exhibits, including the National Art Museum of China, Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu province and Liaoning Provincial Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning province, as well as Beijing-based Rong Bao Zhai, the time-honored cultural brand from which Qi used to order fine-quality paper.

Technically, the xieyi style prioritizes expansive washes of ink and muted shades of color over precise delineation of the subjects. This minimalist treatment accentuates an understated beauty and otherworldly tendencies.