Painted petals fan centuries of grace

For centuries, the fan — crafted from paper or silk, in folding or round form — was an intimate companion of scholars and elites in China. Beyond its practical use, it served as a refined vehicle for aesthetic taste and social identity. Artists painted fans with evocative themes and inscribed them with calligraphy, turning the object into a portable canvas for emotion, reflection and friendship, often exchanged among peers as tokens of esteem.

An exhibition at the gallery of Art News of China in Beijing brings together such fan art with works by noted ink artists to mark the publication's 10th anniversary. The exhibition also traces the history of peony cultivation in Heze, Shandong province, a hub famed for its diverse varieties. From here, peonies travel nationwide, enriching both material lives and cultural imagination.