Strange Wonders: Jizi and Pioneers of Contemporary Ink from China

By Petra Fallaha, BA History of Art 28/10/2024

SOAS Gallery’s latest show, entitled Strange Wonders: Jizi and Pioneers of Contemporary Ink from China and curated by Dr. Katie Hill from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, offers a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts and the public alike to explore the works of influential Chinese contemporary artists. 

Highlighting the works of the late Jizi (born Wang Yunshan, 1941 – 2015), the exhibition, which runs from the 9th of October to the 14th of December, offers a snapshot of his contributions to contemporary Chinese ink painting and will be his first major exhibition in the UK. It will also feature works by other notable artists, including Gu Wenda, Xu Bing, Guo Lee, and Cai Yuan, all prominent artists who, like Jizi, helped to redefine traditional Chinese art as we know it.

John Hollingworth, Head of Galleries & Exhibitions at SOAS, emphasised its significance:

‘Jizi’s work represents an extraordinary and personal journey into the vastness of nature and the mind, and his relentless creative energy is inspiring. This exhibition brings his work into focus for UK audiences while also highlighting how contemporary Chinese ink painting continues to evolve through the contributions of his peers.’

Jizi, who passed away in 2015, is internationally recognised as a contemporary master of Chinese ink. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jizi resisted the realism that dominated Chinese art after the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and instead revisited ancient traditions, advancing with them into new realms. Working mostly in isolation, he developed a visual language bridging the cosmic and personal, merging Daoist spirituality with artistic innovation. In fact, the title of the exhibition is taken from Daoist poem of the same name.

Hollingworth explained that many of Jizi’s works were held in Chinese customs for months before the exhibition; Jizi printed seals onto his pieces in ancient Chinese script, and these had to be specially translated by officials in order to be approved for release out of the country. 

The most complicated to install, however, was Jizi’s monumental 40-metre scroll titled “Epic of Nature”. Never shown before in the UK, this piece captures his core artistic philosophy, where nature is both majestic and fragile, chaotic and harmonious. It employs large, sweeping, striking bold ink strokes that symbolises his raw encounters with the natural world. 

While Jizi’s work forms the heart of the exhibition, Strange Wonders also showcases other significant Chinese artists. Gu Wenda’s piece explores cultural and linguistic hybridity, while Xu Bing’s iconic deconstructed scripts question the relationship between writing and its inherent meanings. Featured alongside these eminent figures are also Guo Le and Cai Yuan, members of the Chinese artistic diaspora and whose pieces reflect on displacement, identity, and cultural transformation. In this way, Strange Wonders unravels a rich dialogue between tradition and innovation.

Strange Wonders is a must-see for anyone interested in contemporary Chinese art and its enduring relevance in the modern world.

Strange Wonders: Jizi and Pioneers of Contemporary Ink from China runs at SOAS Gallery from October 9th to December 14th. Admission is free. For more information see the SOAS Gallery website.