Exploring abstract art through three generations

Sparse and Dense Timespace, an ongoing exhibition at the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, brings together three leading figures in Chinese abstract art. Born in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s respectively, the artists offer a broad perspective on how different generations, shaped by distinct social and cultural influences, have each embraced abstraction while developing highly individual artistic styles.

Ma Shuqing is renowned for his three-decade exploration of the relationship between color and space, creating richly textured canvases through the painstaking accumulation of vibrant layers of pigment.

Feng Yan combines painting and photography in his practice, inviting viewers to rediscover the beauty and significance of everyday objects.

Wang Guangle draws inspiration from the lacquer-making tradition of his native Fujian province. Through his meticulously layered paintings, he explores the passage of time and the traces it leaves behind.

Presented together, their works celebrate a lifelong commitment to artistic practice and a sustained investigation of the subjects, materials and methods that have captivated each artist throughout their careers.