Zhu Xinjian

In the social vicissitudes of the early 20th century, literati painting was denounced as self-indulgent. It gradually lost its prominence, while Western Realism was introduced to activate people's patriotism and help modernize Chinese art. It was not until the mid-1980s that the "New Literati Painting" emerged as a result of ink painters' dissatisfaction with the realistic approach. These painters were eager to revive the charisma and nuanced expressions of ink brushwork.

"Opponents saw a lack of the literary refinement of ancient scholar-bureaucrats in the 'New Literati Painting'," says Li Xianting, the exhibition's academic director. "But I think they translated the scholarly style into a modern, worldly context, through the expressions of boredom, laziness, depression, nostalgia and shamelessness of today's people."

Zhu's friend Chen Danqing says: "Only the word 'straightforward' can sum up Zhu's paintings. His life and his characters make us feel how fake we've always been."

Only the word 'straightforward' can sum up Zhu's paintings. His life and his characters make us feel how fake we've always been."