Making ancient art relevant for modern audiences

The paintings, designed to fit round and folding fans, come in different styles.

Xiao's paintings are created on round spun silk fans. Most are inspired by the pure, simple life of people in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and the idyllic poems depicting pastoral landscapes and rural life by Chinese poet Lu You during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

"That's my ideal painting style and ideal life in a busy world," says Xiao, who has set up a home studio near Huangxing Park in Shanghai with a window allowing him to enjoy the sunrise. Xiao depicts the life he pursues in his paintings, which feature scenes of people making tea, reading, and listening to birds chirping.

Instead of focusing on people and life, the folding fans decorated by He Ting, on the other hand, feature paintings that illustrate landscapes, birds and fishes.

Born in the coastal city of Xiangshan in Zhejiang province, He fancies the warm, delicate views of Jiangnan water towns.

In addition to Chinese painting techniques, He also draws pattern styles and color designs of Japanese Nihonga and Western paintings, adding bright tones to the works. He only chooses light colors from Western paintings that can fit into the style of Chinese ink.

In an attempt to reach a wider audience, especially younger generations, He has been sharing his works on the popular video streaming website Bilibili.

To find inspiration, the duo frequent bookstores, art exhibitions and visit scenic spots, such as Huangshan Mountain in Anhui province, to do sketching.

"We're lucky to be living in an era where the government fully supports the culture industry and is promoting the revival of traditional Chinese culture. As the country develops, artists gain more opportunities to spread the culture both at home and abroad," says He.

He is presently working on developing cultural and creative products and online mini-programs to promote art students' innovative ideas in the future.

Xiao says he plans to further his studies in poems and arts history. He also wants to travel extensively by the time he turns 40.

"Traveling expands my knowledge and experience beyond the metropolis and textbooks, which will greatly broaden my horizon and benefit the creation of artistic works," Xiao says.

The artist also hopes to pursue the kind of life depicted in ancient paintings and integrate the essence of these ancient works into his own creations.

"In this way, my real life can be similar to the ideal life in art works, and the works I create can show the spirit of both earlier masters as well as my own," he says.

If you go

10 am-4:30 pm, through July 5. Shanghai Public Art Museum, No 125 Guyi road, Xuhui district.

caochen@chinadaily.com.cn