PIFO Gallery presents the "Shuyu—Yin Shuyu Ink Painting Exhibition" on March 29, curated by Yu Yang, marking the artist's first solo exhibition at the gallery.
Ink art and Chinese painting, expressiveness, and xieyi (freehand style) are interrelated yet subtly distinct concepts in contemporary art. How should we conceive traditional ink art in today's artistic context? What are the nuanced and complex differences between expressiveness and freehand style? How can traditional xieyi embody contemporary spirit and thereby point towards the future? These are questions that have long lingered in the minds of artists and art aficionados alike.
This ink painting exhibition, titled "Shuyu," is presented at PIFO gallery, carries special significance, and perhaps even hints at discrete mysteries.
Who is Shuyu? Between the celestial and man, each has its own direction. In nature, Shu (澍) refers to "timely rain"—rain that nourishes all living things, a term derived from Shuo Wen Jie Zi (an ancient Chinese dictionary), stating, "Shu, timely rain that brings forth all things." The Tang poet Song Zhiwen once wrote in Spring Sacrifice to the Sea in the Fourth Year of Jinglong: "The vast land nears the Eight Desolations, the sky turns, and the rain nourishes all rivers." A timely rain symbolizes nature’s abundance and blessings, fostering the growth of all things.
Man who praises the living spirit, Shuyu is also the name of a well-known contemporary freehand ink artist—Yin Shuyu. A person’s name often carries a hidden prophecy. Over the years, having embarked on a path of freehand birds and flowers painting, Yin Shuyu’s artistic journey has been as rich and nourishing as “a timely rain.” From the China Academy of Art to the Central Academy of Fine Arts and then to the Chinese National Academy of Arts, his path has been marked by deep engagement with traditional ink studies as a student and teacher. His freehand depictions of his homeland have evolved under the influence of contemporary culture, embracing openness and expressing the human experience.
Who can be described as embodying a "defiant edge?” As a distinctive stance, it characterizes a resolute and unconventional person and describes an "out-of-the-box" brushstroke in painting and calligraphy. The Yuan Dynasty artist Li Puguang once wrote in The Eight Principles of the Yong Character: "One must not let the brush be entirely straight or slanted." Slanted strokes have a unique, solitary character, and while some call them flawed when executed with precision, they bring a sense of artistry. The Qing Dynasty scholar Zhu Heheng stated in Reflections on Calligraphy Practice: "The distinction between slanted and straight strokes did not exist in ancient times. Even the great calligrapher Wang Xizhi did not abandon slanted strokes." Ultimately, being on a “defiant edge” represents an artistic attitude and a standard of self-expectation. It suggests not just the use of a straight brush but also slanted and angled strokes, enriching expressive depth—just like Yin Shuyu’s freehand brushwork, which breathes life into his depictions of birds, flowers, and fruits.
PIFO is also a physical space. Founded by Wang Xinyou, a veteran of the art world, PIFO Gallery was founded in 2006 in Suojiacun before moving to the 798 Art District in 2008. Over nearly 20 years, it has evolved from a traditional calligraphy and painting collection to a contemporary art space. Wang Xinyou finds joy in bridging these two worlds, discovering artists with both contemporary potential and refined artistic qualities—Yin Shuyu being one such artist.
A Timely Rain with a defiant edge is neither a gentle drizzle nor a raging storm. Instead, it is a timely rain—both abundant and incisive—expressing ink art in a way that is at once traditional and contemporary. As a "timely rain" descends upon the world in a "defiantly edgy" manner, it transcends old and new artistic ideals, proving that it can achieve lasting significance and eternity only when classical artistic expression merges with the spirit of the times. (Yu Yang, A Timely Rain with a Defiant Edge, 2025)
Preview: March 29, 2025, 16:00
Duration: March 29 - May 4, 2025
Venue: PIFO Gallery, Beijing
