Biography
Liang Quan (b. 1948, Shanghai, China) is one of the most representative figures in abstract painting in China. He graduated from the Affiliated High School of the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, and went to study at the Academy of Art College (now the Academy of Art University) in San Francisco. Liang taught at the printmaking department of the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now the China Academy of Art), and worked at Shenzhen Fine Art Institute. He currently lives and works in Shenzhen.
Liang Quan is one of the earliest artists who combine traditional ink wash painting with abstract painting, creating a personal style that bridges — while accentuates — the differences between the Eastern and Western aesthetics. The application of both fine-brush and free stroke painting fills the canvas with minute details, forming an elaborate scheme that represents things and, ultimately, the emptiness of things. The ink wash bleeds into each other, creating a cascade of colors of varied saturation, and a choreography of forms. Reality is constructed with layers upon layers of details, and, as it is buried underneath, reemerges again in a different light. Emptiness conveys limitlessness. The concessions and ambiguities he makes are the step back he takes when facing the fast-changing world. The most representative of his works, the ink wash collages, are an expression of the peace of Zen. His mixed material collages connect the abstract art of the West and the traditional ink wash of the East, and draw wide attention with its unique style and Eastern essence.
Education
1948
Born in Shanghai, with ancestral home in Zhongshan, Guangdong
1964
Admitted to the affiliated middle school of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now China Academy of Art)
1978
Enrolled in Academy of Art College in San Francisco to study printmaking
1984 Back to China, started to teach at the Printmaking Department of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now China Academy of Art) 1995 Started to works as professional painter at Shenzhen Fine Art Institute
Now works and lives in Shenzhen
Solo Exhibitions (selection)
2024
Liang Quan: New Spring, MANGROVEGALLERY, Shenzhen, China
2023
Liang Quan: Green, Pingshan Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
2022
2022 Art Changsha, Changsha, China
2021
Title-less: Liang Quan Solo Exhibition, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
2020
Enzo Cucchi & Liang Quan, MANGROVEGALLERY, Shenzhen, China
2019
Liang Quan: The Neo Six Persimmons, Hunsand Space, Beijing, China
“Good” told by the nature in Shanghai, Mao Space, Shanghai, China
“Good” told by the nature, OCT Boxes Art Museum, Foshan, China
2018
Watching the Clouds Go By: Liang Quan’s Creative Style and it’s Changes, Hive Center for Contemporary Art (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
2017
Liang Quan Solo Project, Insight, ART BASEL Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Arcadia Revisited: Liang Quan and the Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang Rivers, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Liang Quan | Light as Tea: Frank F. Yang Collection Exhibition, Extra Space, Shenzhen, China
2015 Amassing the Essence: Thirty Years of Paintings by Liang Quan, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China 2014 The Joy of Tea – Liang Quan Solo Exhibition, Soka Art Taipei, Taipei, China 2013 Folds of the Infra-fade, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China 2011 Bland, Wellside Gallery, Seoul, Korea 2006 Liang Quan’s Solo Exhibition, Zhu Qizhan Art Museum, Shanghai, China 2005 Liang Quan: Paper Abstractions, M. Sutherland Fine Arts, New York, U.S.A 2004 Liang Quan’s Solo Exhibition, Mies van Der Rohe Haus, Berlin, Germany 2001 Liang Quan’s Solo Exhibition, Kunst House, Nuremberg, Germany 1994 Liang Quan’s Solo Exhibition, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, China 1989 Liang Quan’s Solo Exhibition, University of San Diego, San Diego, U.S.A.
Liang Quan Solo Exhibition, Wistaria Tea House, Taipei, China
Sailing ~ Afar — Liang Quan’s New Works, PIFO New Art Gallery, Beijing, China
Eight Views of Xiaoxiang, Wistaria Tea House, Taipei, China
Group Exhibitions (selection)
2023
The Beginning Of Spring, Ying Space, Beijing, China
The trace and evolution of contemporary ink painting in Guangdong, Luohu Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
Dwellings and Surroundings: From Saisen Private Collection, Saisen Art, Shanghai, China
2022
Greater Than Abstraction, Bund Art Center, Shanghai, China
2021
The Exhibition of Annual of Contemporary Art of China Shanghai 2020, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
The Memory Palace, OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, China
Nine-Tiered Pagoda: Spatial and Visual Magic ⑤: Similar Results, Different Approaches – Chen Wenji + Ding Yi + Liang Quan + Tan Ping, Pingshan Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
2020 Wild Imagination – Contemporary Ink Art in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao from 2000 to 2020, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China 2019 Freeland around the Second Line: Shenzhen Contemporary Art in 2019, Hive Center for Contemporary Art (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China 2018 The Clouded Peach Blossom Spring: Selected Works of Chinese Contemporary Artists as Exemplars, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China 2017 7th Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China 2016 The Third Exhibition of Contemporary Ink Works: Disguised Form-Ink Paintings’ Dimension, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China 2015 Dialog: The Differences and Similarities in the Abstract Art – Enrique Brinkmann & Liang Quan, Bridge Gallery, Beijing, China 2014 Perfection upon Finery: Liang Quan & Jin Shi, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China 2013 Illusion: Contemporary Chinese Ink and Wash Painting Exhibition I, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China 2012 RE-INK: Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Ink and Wash Painting 2000-2012, Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan, China 2011 The Great Celestial Abstraction: Chinese Art in the 21st Century, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, Rome, Italy 2010 Back to the Essence – From Ink Painting to Ink, Da-Xiang Art Space, Taichung, China 2009 paint ALOUD: Wang Gongyi, Song Yonghong, Liang Quan, KOGO art space, Hangzhou, China 2008 Appreciation / Pure Mind: Chinese Contemporary Water Ink Exhibition, Da-Xiang Art Space, Taichung, China 2007 Narration in Ink and Wash, Yokohama Zaim Gallery, Yokohama, Japan 2006 Chinese Abstract: Liang Quan, Wang Chuan and Yan Shanchun, Zhu Qizhan Art Museum, Shanghai, China 2005 Ink and Paper, Weimar Art Museum, Weimar, Germany 2003 Metaphysics 2003: Shanghai Abstract Art Exhibition, Shanghai Museum of Art, Shanghai, China 2002 Ost + West: Ausstellung fuer die Zeitgenossische Kunst aus China, Vienna Künstlerhaus, Vienna, Austria 1998 The 2nd Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China 1997 Chinese Art Exhibition – Contemporary Chinese Painting, Shanghai, China 1996 Chinese Modern Print Exhibition, British Museum, London, UK 1991 Exhibition at the Headquarters of the World Bank, Washington, U.S.A. 1988 Chinese Modern Fine Art Exhibition, Churchill College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
From Treatise on Superfluous Things, Suzhou Jinji Lake Art Museum, Suzhou, China
Tribute to Tradition: Touring Exhibition of Contemporary Art Paper Works, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
The Gaze of History: Contemporary Chinese Art Revisited, Jupiter Museum, Shenzhen, China
Light Profoundness: The Worldlet of East Asian Artists, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Mountains and Rivers Far Away: Contemporary Evolutionary Creation and Document Exhibition of “Shanshui” Art, SPSI Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Ink and Things: The Second Biennale Exhibition of Wuhan Ink Art, Wuhan Art Museum, Wuhan, China
The Common Space-The Grand Canal Narrative of the Post Intangible-Heritage Ear, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China
Ink at Current: The 10th International Ink Art Biennale of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Fine Art Institute / OCAT Shenzhen / OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen, China
Exposition Collective Eau et contemporaines du Guangdong, Centre Culturel de Chine à Paris, Paris, France
Spearhead: Invitation Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Ink Wash (New Abstract of Ink Painting), Shanghai Ming Yuan Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Tasteless Taste: Seven Possibilities of Modern Diluted-colored Ink-and-Wash, No.8 Bridge Space of Art, Shanghai, China
Oriental Peach Valley: Contemporary Chinese Art with Sources of the Traditional Oriental Aesthetics, Werkschau Halle, Spinnerei Leipzig, Germany
Return to Otology: Tracing the source of abstract art in the new period of Guangdong, Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou, China
Post-Brushwork Era: Chinese Landscapes, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China / Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
The Polars: Part of the New Ink Wash Painting Series Exhibition, Ink Asia Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Troposphere – Chinese and Brazilian Contemporary Art, Beijing Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing, China
Tracing the Past and Shaping the Future: Powerlong Museum Inaugural Exhibition, Powerlong Museum, Shanghai, China
Shanghai Galaxy II, Yuz Museum, Shanghai, China
The Weight of Lightness: Ink Art At M+, M+ Pavilion, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong, China
Aura and Vitality: 12 Oriental Aesthetic Samples in Contemporary Art, Hive Center for Contemporary Art (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
A Ride to Combine: Hive’s Special Exhibition 2016, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Ten Years Collection Exhibition, Bridge Gallery, Beijing, China
Contemporary Ink Art Invitational Exhibition, Enjoy-Art Museum, Beijing, China
No.19 in Shenyun Road-Shenzhen International Invitational Exhibition, Artron Art Centre, Shenzhen, China
Abstract and Beyond: The Research Exhibition of Abstract Art in China, Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China
G20, Hangzhou International Exhibition Centre, Hangzhou, China
Chinese Abstract 2016, Shanghai Ming Yuan Art Museum, Shanghai, China
The world is yours, as well as ours, White Cube Mason’s Yard, London, UK
Pi Daojian + Yan Yong: Being and Inking – Documenting Contemporary Ink Art, Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art, Guangzhou, China
Artists Living in Shanghai Wuu Speech, China Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Research Room III: The Working of Non-figurative System, Rightview Art Museum, Beijing, China
Too Loud a Solitude: Stalkers of Chinese Contemporary Art, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
The Research Exhibition of Abstract Art in China, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
Deconstruction and Revolution of Ink Art, Phoenix Art Palace Museum, Wuxi, China
Calligraphic Time and Space: Abstract Art in China, Power Station of Art, Shanghai, China
The Boundaries of Order, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Mind-Scape II, 3812 Art Space, Hong Kong, China
West Says East Says – Chinese Contemporary Art Research Exhibition, United Art Museum, Wuhan, China
By the Name of Dailiness: Chinese Contemporary Art Everyday discourse and generate ideas, Blue Roof Museum of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
vibrARTion Switzerland 2014 – Form of the Formless: Exhibition of Chinese Contemporary Art, art-st-urban Museum of Contemporary Art, Lucerne, Switzerland
Context of Paper Essence, Center for Book & Paper Arts, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, USA
18th Biennale of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Chinese Abstract Art Exhibition, Minnesota University Art Museum, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Super-Organism CAFAM Biennale, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China
Ink: One Day in June, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation of Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
Reshaping History: Chinart from 2000 to 2009, China National Convention Center, Beijing, China
Thirty Years of China Contemporary Art 1979-2009, Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Gengyin ink · Original and Future, The National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
Yi Pai – Century Thinking, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
INK not INK: A Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; Museum of Warsaw Royal, Poland
Beyond the Image: Liang Quan, Lui Chunkwong & Yan Shanchun, Osage Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, China
The Transforming Marks of Ink, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Guangzhou Station: Special Exhibition Contemporary Art of Guangdong, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
The Yi School: Thirty Years of Chinese Abstract Art, CaixaForum Palma / CaixaForum Barcelona / CaixaForum Madrid, Spain
Ink on Paper: Contemporary Ink and Wash, The Rihour Palace, Lille, France
Retrospection of Experimental Ink and Wash 1985-2000, Shenzhen Fine Art Institute, Shenzhen, China
Tribute to 85, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
Collections (selection)
The British Museum
Australian White Rabbit Art Museum
Hong Kong Museum of Art
Hong Kong M+
Asian Art Museum
Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum
National Art Museum of China
Suzhou Hanshan Art Museum;
Artron Art Center
Zhu Qizhan Art Museum
Minsheng Modern Art Museum
Guangdong Museum of Art