Liu Dan, a well-known ink artist, says although Shao was not trained as an ink painter at an art school, his explorations have contributed to strengthening and reviving the classical Chinese art form. Shao's endeavor shows in his other forms of works, too, exhibiting his rich, independent mind as nurtured by art, Liu believes.

Shao says he works with various mediums to produce different art forms.

"Art for me is like a pearl," he says.

"I see the pearl as a result of self-healing after suffering harm from the outside world. Art has that same function-serving as a kind of enduring self-relief or self-comfort to cope with our feelings of helplessness."

Contact the writer at linqi@chinadaily.com.cn