Shanghai-based artist Chen Jialing, a pillar of the Shanghai School of traditional ink painting, has redefined artistry as a form of spiritual resilience. During Shanghai's 2022 quarantine, the 85-year-old maestro produced 100 works—50 vivid plum blossom paintings paired with 50 calligraphy pieces inspired by classical Chinese poetry—symbolizing perseverance amid adversity.
\"Whether I'm aware of it or not, drawing is also a process of self-cultivation,\" Chen reflects, merging discipline with philosophical introspection. His minimalist brushstrokes, celebrated for capturing nature's essence, gained renewed depth during isolation, embodying the plum blossom's symbolic defiance of harsh winters.
Born in Hangzhou in 1937, Chen has spent six decades refining the Shanghai School's legacy, blending free-spirited abstraction with contemplative realism. Art historians praise his pandemic collection as a \"dialogue between tradition and modernity,\" resonating globally with themes of hope and cultural continuity.
Reference(s):
The Art Beat | Chen Jialing: Soft fragrance from the brush tip
cgtn.com
