Liang Quan has become a representative of “abstract naturalism” in China, changing the definition of landscape paintings with the form of abstract; meanwhile, transforming the lofty feeling and tragic quality of Western abstract to the ethereal spirit of landscape painting and opening up a new painting space through subtle poetry, allowing the abstract to return to daily life and the individual experiences of cultivating ones morality. The reason why “abstract naturalism” and “image naturalism” differ from abstract expressionism, minimalism and conceptualism in western paintings and mono-ha’s art of Japan is that: western abstract art removes the sublime, it ignores the technical and physical properties and the practice of self-cultivation by technology and things. Paintings return to the figuration of life and an aesthetic style by becoming closer to common life and nature; while the painting language shows “phosgene amalgamation”, “vacation or void” and “let it be” of the blank, the invisible light so the visible violence becomes soft and subtle and brings us into a micro-metaphysical spiritual world, which is the dream of Adorno and Lyotard, just like Dr. Fabian Heubel’s invocation!

By Xia Kejun: The Poetry of Surface and the Possibility of Abstract Naturalism

Literati gathering in China was a perfect and elegant form of entertainment, in the period from Wang Xizhi’s game so that a group of people drank water from a winding canal with one wine cup floating on it so as to wash away the ominous presence until the Republic of China, literati gatherings left many perfect myths for the Chinese literati. The gathering combined the material and spiritual enjoyments in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and in the Song Dynasty, spiritual gatherings and the large and luxurious banquets were at opposite poles, literati gatherings should refuse any worldly expressions.

By Liang Quan: Sailing Afar

I nervously wait and think, think and wait. I have never remembered any problem yet, or have those problems been solved, or perhaps there isn’t any existing problem yet. Staying in such adisorderly, meticulous and real world of “emptiness”, I am satisfied with my state so that I can adhere to tradition and my heart without any ambition, conservative and quiet: I don't do anything.

By Liang Quan: My Words

In my eyes, the real traditional Chinese painting must reveal Zen thoughts, a kind of metaphysical thinking. So I try to express Zen. In the terms of interest, I always want to reach the ancient hermits’ calm and desolated artistic conception. Western painting lacks this kind of artistic conception, but I love the artistic conception of Chinese culture in my life, and I want to show it in the abstract.

By Liang Quan: Looking for the Empty Order in Light Ink

Liang Quan began to be interested in Chinese traditional culture when he reached middle age. Starting from the study of tea, developing to the traditional Chinese medicine, and then Zen, Liang Quan finishes an integration of life status, physical conditions and the mental state. It is fully reflected in his works.

By Huang Du: Abstract - Minimalist - Poetic

Tea traces are like thevivid traces on the surface of old spotted bamboo, like small holes of a stone under the old eaves where constant dripping water wear away the stones…

By Liang Chao: Poetry of Tea Trace

About Liang Quan

Liang Qaun was born in Shanghai in 1948, a Professor of the China Academy of Art. He now lives and works in Shenzhen.

Solo Exhibitions

2014 “The Weed and Clear Spring – Liang Quan Solo Exhibition”, Wistaria Tea House, Taipei, China

2013 “Folds of the Infra-Fade – Liang Quan Solo Exhibition”, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2011 “Flat”, Wellside Gallery, Seoul, Korea

2011 “Sailing~Afar —Liang Quan's New Works”, PIFO New Art Gallery, Beijing, China

2011 “Eight Views of Xiaoxiang”, Wistaria Tea House, Taipei, China

2006 Liang Quan's Solo Exhibition, Zhu Qizhan Art Museum, Shanghai, China

2005 Liang Quan's Solo Exhibition, 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, Nürnberg, Germany

1994 Liang Quan's Solo Exhibition, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, China

Group Exhibitions

2014 “Perfection upon Finery: Liang Quan Jin Shi”, Hive Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China

2014“Non-Being • Emptiness”: An Intellectual Dimension of Contemporary Art, Tokyo Gallery+BTAP, Beijing, China

2014 “i-Inkness”, ZHC Art Space, Beijing, China

2014 “2014’ The 7th Abstract Exhibition”, PIFO New Art Gallery, Beijing, China

2014 “Empty Cold”, Soka Art Center, Beijing, China

2012 “Non-Media: Zhang Yu, Liang Quan Works Exhibition”, Enjoy Museum of Art, Beijing, China

2012 “At Rest – The 5th Exhibition of Chinese Abstract Art”, PIFO New Art Gallery, Beijing, China

2012 Sydney Biennale, Sydney, Australia

2011 “LA GRANDE ASTRAZIONE CELESTE”, National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rome, Italy

2011 “Chinese Abstract Art Exhibition”, Art Museum of the University of Minnesota, the United States

2011 “Echo: Minds – in – Hands” the 4th Exhibition of Chinese Abstract Art, PIFO New Art Gallery, Beijing, China

2011 “The Unconscious Image”, Da Xiang Art Space,Taichung, China

2011 “Natural Rule - Contemporary Chinese Abstract Art Exhibition”, SH Contemporary, Shanghai, China

2010 “Back to the Essence from Ink Painting to Ink”, Da Xiang Art Space, Taiwan, China

2010 “One Day in June”, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, New York, the United States

2010 Yi Pai: 30 Years of Abstract Art in China, la caixa forum Palma / la caixa forum Barcelona/ la caixa forum Madrid, Spain

2009 “Ink, Not Ink”, Drexel University, Philadelphia, U.S.A/Museum of Warsaw Royal, Poland

2009 “Beyond the Image: Liang Quan, Lui Chunkwong & Yan Shanchun”, Osage Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, China

2008 “Savoring Images with a Pure Heart: Contemporary Chinese Ink and Wash Invitational Exhibition”, Daxiang Art Space, Taiwan, China

2008 Guangdong Contemporary Art Exhibition, GuangdongMuseum of Art, Guangzhou, China

2008 “Yi Pai: Century Thinking”, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China

2008 Chinesische Tuschemalerei Der Gegenwart, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresgen, Germany

2007Traces and Temperament: Contemporary Art Exhibition, Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China

2007 Narration in Ink and Wash, Yokohama Zaim Gallery, Yokohama, Japan

2005Ink and Paper, Weimar Art Museum, Weimar, Germany

2005 Ink on Paper—Contemporary Ink and Wash, Palace Rihour, Lille, France

2005 Korean-Chinese Contemporary Ink Painting, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea

2002 Ost+West, Ausstellung fuer die Zeitgenossische Kunst aus China, Kunstlerhaus in Wien, Austina

1996 Chinese Modern Print Exhibition, British Museum, London, UK

1991 Exhibition in Headquarters of the World Bank, Washington, U.S.A.

1989 Exhibition in the University of San Diego, San Diego, U.S.A.

 Courtesy of the artist, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO.