Qian Wu

1991 Born in Xiamen, Fujian province

Graduated from the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University,

and received master degree from the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at

Columbia University.

From 2011 to 2016, he studied at the Art Students League of New York, and he completed the first advanced research class on abstract art at Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2020.

SOLO EXHIBITION

2021

“A Ten-Year Dream—The Solo Exhibition of Qian Wu's Ink Series”, Guan Shanyue Art

Museum, Shenzhen

“Mix·No Phase—A Double Solo Exhibition for Liwei Wang and Qian Wu”, The MixC,

Xiamen

2020

“The Realm of Ink and Wash—Qian Wu Solo Exhibition”, Powerlong Art Center,

Shanghai/Hangzhou

“From Formlessness to Form—A Double Solo Exhibition for Yifeng Cheng and Qian

Wu”, Times Art Gallery, Xiamen

2019

“Attainment through Formlessness— The Solo Exhibition of Qian Wu's Recent Works”,

Powerlong Art Center, Xiamen

“Wandering in the Crossroads—The Exhibition of Qian Wu’s Recent Works”, Elga

Wimmer PCC, New York, USA

2016

“The First Solo Exhibition of Qian Wu's Artworks”, Gallery456, New York, USA

GROUP EXHIBITION

2021

“Story—The National Touring Exhibition of Comprehensive Painting by Young and

Middle-Aged Artists”, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, Xi’an

“DANG·XIA—Group Exhibition of Xiamen Young Artists”, Philosophy Space of Art,

Xiamen

2020

“Your Backpack: The Exploration of Post '80s Ink Artists—The Fifth Anniversary New

Year Exhibition of Annual Review of China Contemporary Ink”, Jining Art Museum,

Jining

“The Third Beijing Youth Art Biennale”, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing

“The Third National Comprehensive Material Painting Biennale”, Ningbo

Contemporary Art Museum, Ningbo

“Study Things to Acquire Knowledge—Thirty Young Artists Invitational Exhibition”,

Fuqing Museum, Fuqing

“Pulse—Chinese Contemporary Painting Exhibition”, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum,

Fukuoka, Japan

“The Third Powerlong Art Award Selected Exhibition”, Powerlong Museum, Shanghai

Wu has refined a unique style exhibiting influence from both the Eastern and the Western traditions. He paints on dry, semi-dry and wet surfaces, adding multiple layers of paint to create a wide range of effects. Using acrylic, oil or both, mixed with ink and water, with his black and white palette, he has put together all the information and technique he acquired since his time as a youngster to evoke a state of mind that underlies any apparent “reality.” He creates pictures sensitive to the Taoist spirit that his Chinese predecessors honored. In life and art, he expresses personality in his work, manifesting the sacred harmonious relationship between yin and yang.

⸺ Mark Bloch “Wandering in the Crossroads: Qian Wu's Recent Works

From the expression to the structuring, and from “hot abstract” to “cold abstract”, Qian

Wu seeks for more profound understanding of the logic and the narrative pattern behind

western abstract art. Meanwhile, he believes that, mere pursuit of art form and art language, if without spiritual core, would be pale and bland. Holding this belief, he takes

Chinese ink as the medium, working on strengthening the expression of lines, building

connections through the “writing”, and occasionally allowing some “contingency” to add

uncertainty and vagueness to his artwork.

⸺  He Guiyan “Idea and Form—Qian Wu's Experiment on Abstract Painting

Qian Wu's artwork is deeply rooted in the eastern aesthetics but presented in the western contemporary art style. It conveys the wisdom of Laotsu and Zhaungtsu  tranquility and inaction. It successfully passes on the spirit of the traditional ink painting in the form of western painting.

⸺  Yao Quanxing “Fascination and Inner Need— Reflections on the First Solo Exhibition of Qian Wu's Artworks”