Art beat ... finger on the pulse

Beijing

Revival of ancient art style

Female painter Zhang Yidan is acclaimed for reviving the artistic spirit of Bada Shanren, aka Zhu Da, the ink painting master of late Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. She further diversifies her creations by absorbing the elements of portraits in the gongbi style and mountain-and-water in the xieyi approach, which she followed the discipline of noted painter Tang Yongli and Long Rui respectively. Under her meticulous strokes, Zhang has touched upon the loss, loneliness and solitude of urbanities. Her current solo exhibition at Prince Kung's Mansion displays 40-odd ink-and-color works that bridge today's audience with the spiritual world of ancient art.