Dreamscape 5 by Liu Jian

In his earlier work artist Liu Jian used traditional Chinese materials to create Western-influenced paintings. In this new suite of ten paintings entitled “Dreamscapes,” the artist draws on calligraphy and traditional painting styles to attempt a uniquely Chinese approach to contemporary art. Using ink on paper in a hanging scroll format, Jian layers veils of black ink to create an evocative landscape of abstract forms. Drips, splashes and freeform lines emerge from dark clouds of ink suggesting dense vegetation in some fantastical realm. Melancholic, suggestive and relevatory, Jian’s paintings demonstrate the artist’s mastery of the painting medium and engagement with the contemporary art. Residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Jian has exhibited widely in Asia and Europe.