Chinese Ink on Paper
79.5x49.5cm
Zhang Wen’s Coming-of-Age series is filled with the nostalgia, experiences and revelations of growing up. It is as if through her art, she can stave off that moment when the innocence of childhood is overtaken by the realities of adulthood. Her works carry a wistful wisdom; a knowledge that paradoxically, innocence can only be recognized retrospectively from the vantage point of experience.
1988 Born in Henan, China
2011 Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Chinese Ink faculty
2012 Completed one-year foreign residency in the United States
2016 Graduated with a Master’s degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Chinese Ink faculty under the supervision of Prof. Liu Qing He
Currently a full-time professional artist based in Beijing.
2019 Affordable Art Fair Singapore, White Space Art Asia
2019 Joint Exhibition “Elegance of Absence” at ION ART Gallery Singapore, White Space Art Asia
2018 Affordable Art Fair Singapore, White Space Art Asia
2017 Zhang Wen solo exhibition – “Trilogy”, Shanghai
2016 “Luo Zhong Li Scholarship” Joint Exhibition, Chongqing Sichuan
2016 Joint Exhibition Vipassana - National Excellent Chinese Painting Collection of the Post-80s
Generation, Beijing
2016 Art Kaohsiung, White Space Art Asia
2016 Art Taipei, White Space Art Asia
2016 Youth Will 2016, Beijing
2016 Fresh Vision 2016 – Denominating: Power & Game, Shenzhen
2016 CAFA Postgraduates Graduate Exhibition 2016
2016 Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
2016 Joint Exhibition Ink Art In Change, Beijing
2016 8080, Nomination Exhibition of Chinese Young Artists born in the 1980s, Beijing
2015 4th CAFA Graduate Exhibition Coexistence, Yanhuang Art Museum
2015 Joint Exhibition INK by White Space Art Asia, Singapore
2015 Originality by the Academics Creative Art 2015 by CAFA Art Museum, Beijing
2015 The Traditional Chinese Painting from Excellent Postgraduates Ink Field by Dayuntang Art
Museum
2015 Mo Courtyard - Wushi Kongjian
2015 Singapore Affordable Art Fair, F1 Pit Building, Singapore
2015 Asia Contemporary Art Show, Conrad Hong Kong
2015 Yidian Poly Cup Chinese Ink Competition Award Exhibition, Yidian Art Space, Beijing
2014 Footprints – Youth Central Academy of Fine Arts students exhibition, Central Academy
Exhibition Hall
2014 Resonate – Third Central Academy Research Student’s exhibition, Today Museum
2014 Aspirations of Youth, First Beijing Young Artists Festival, Today Museum and China Central
Museum
2014 12th All China Fine Arts Exhibition, Hebei Province Museum
2014 Confrontation and Dopamine – China Arts Museum, Hebei Cang Zhou Fine Arts Museum
2014 The Realm of Advaita, Annual Nomination Exhibition for Students of Contemporary Art
Academies, Today Art Museum
2014 Fields of Experiment – 2nd Central Academy of Fine Arts Research student’s exhibition, Pixel
Museum
2013 2nd Central Academy Research Students’ Forum Exhibition, Central Academy Library
2013 The China Dream, The Artistic Dream, The Hundred Year Dream - 3rd Central Academy of Fine
Arts students exhibition, Central Academy School of Design Exhibition Hall
2012 Thousand Mile Journey – national tour of award winning works, revolving exhibition at the
eight major national art academies
2011 Thousand Mile Journey – exhibition of outstanding graduation works, Central Academy of
Fine Arts Museum
2009 7th National Literary Books Design Exhibition, National Centre For the Performing Arts
Awards
2016 Youth Will 2016 - "Mountain Cherubs Series" was awarded the third prize
2014 Aspirations of Youth - First Beijing Young Artists Festival, first tier Outstanding Award
2011 Central Academy of Fine Arts graduation exhibition, first tier Outstanding Award. Artwork
collected by the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2009 7th National Literary Books Design Exhibition, Outstanding illustration design prize
2009 Awarded the Central Academy of Fine Arts scholarship
2009 Awarded the Central Academy of Fine Arts Ye Qian Yu Scholarship
“Zhang Wen’s paintings are not just a rendering of physical likeness; what is most precious is the keen observation of the relationship between people and the relationship between people and nature.”
- Professor Liu Qing He
Zhang Wen’s brushstrokes are simple and forthright, a style that amplifies her narrative about childhood innocence. Her use of colour, tonal variation and colour saturation is reminiscent of traditional Chinese ink, and her exceptional composition and perspective reveals an uncommon intelligence. Her art has the distinctive feel and atmosphere of Chinese ink, yet at the same time is distinctive with her own intimately personal and experimental language.
A short interview with artist Zhang Wen at the INK exhibition, ION Art Gallery Singapore in Oct 2015.
Navigating the Valley
An Evening's Walk
A Meeting By Moonlight
Consulting the Winds
The Solitary Fisherman
Flight of Fancy #1
Flight of Fancy #2
Flight of Fancy #3
Endless Gaiety
The Sweet Scent of Freedom
Blush of Springtime
Free Spirited
Emergence
A Missed Appointment
Into the Woods
The Secret Sea
The Island In the Mist
Quiet Time
Making a Point
The Colour of the Wind
Unwinding
Peaches
The Junior Master of the House
In the Company of Stars
Snow Moon
Rainward Bound
Water Days No.1
Water Days No.2
Summer Joys
Communion with Nature
The Chase
Eternal Dance
At the Frontier
Songs of the Light
The Call of Light
Island Light
The Edge of the Universe
Endless Dawn
Autumn's Whisper by the Lakeshore
Heaven in a Wildflower
