Beijing forum explores contemporary literati aesthetics

The Sukie Gallery in Beijing hosted a forum on Dec 26, exploring the concept of contemporary literati aesthetics through the prism of artist Shen Xiaotong's recent practice.

In addition to the artist, the forum brought together Lan Qingwei, an art historian and curator; Ma Xuedong, deputy general manager of the Guardian Art Center; Chen Suting, founder of Sukie Gallery; and Wu Ziyu, an art collector and co-founder of Newbie Labs.

Xing Yu, the curator of Shen's solo exhibition, Ink and Wash on Paper & Oil on Canvas—Shen Xiaotong's Painting Chapter 1, which runs through January 15 at the Sukie Gallery, served as the moderator.

Xing argued that Shen's recent paintings embody an artistic appeal characteristic of wenrenhua, or literati painting. This millennium-old aesthetic was revered by educated individuals—intellectuals and scholar-bureaucrats in ancient China and values the painter's erudition and expression over literal representation.

The forum emphasized Shen's artistic evolution alongside the 40-year development of contemporary art in China.