"Submerged Ink – Chen Caodian Solo Exhibition" Opens in Beijing
The "Submerged Ink – Chen Caodian Solo Exhibition" opened on April 25, 2026, at the Shen Art Museum in Beijing. The exhibition is hosted by the Beijing Guangxi Culture and Art Promotion Association and co-organized by the Shen Art Museum and Beijing Tianruige Cultural Development Co., Ltd. Under the theme "Art and Health," the exhibition features 35 selected works created by artist Chen Caodian over the past two years, including anthropomorphic pandas from her "Seven Sages" series and bird-and-flower paintings. The works showcase her distinctive style of "integrating Chinese and Western traditions with innovative exploration."
Photo taken at the opening ceremony of Chen Caodian's Calligraphy & Painting Exhibition
At the opening ceremony, scholars and artists from the art, cultural, and educational sectors gathered to discuss Chen Caodian's recent creative practices and achievements. Wei Shen, President of the Beijing Guangxi Culture and Art Promotion Association and academic director of the exhibition, and Wang Qingzhou, the curator, delivered speeches. Yang Guyuan, an art event planner, and Jiang Sanbo, a representative of the promotion association, also addressed the ceremony. Renowned artists from the original Yuanmingyuan Artist Village, including Li Xinhui, Hao Zhiqiang, Du Dan, Yin Kun, and Yang Deqing, attended the event and participated in discussions centered around the Shen Art Museum's "Art and Health" exhibition series. The Yuanmingyuan artist group spoke positively of Chen Caodian's transition from tradition to contemporary art, praising her free creative approach that "transcends Eastern and Western boundaries and follows the heart."
The artist and curator of this art exhibition, Wang Qingzhou, delivered a speech.
The artist and producer of this exhibition, Wei Shen, delivered a speech.
The painter and the protagonist of this art exhibition, Chen Caodian, delivered a speech.
On the opening day, a roundtable seminar moderated by renowned art critic Cao Hongxin brought together artist Wei Shen, art event planner Yang Guyuan, artist Chen Manchun, and Chen Caodian herself. The seminar systematically reviewed Chen Caodian's nearly ten-year artistic journey as a female artist from 2016 to 2026. Wei Shen specifically noted that Chen Caodian's anthropomorphic panda series has a clear direction and distinctive characteristics, encouraging her to continue boldly breaking conventions and deepening her work in the future.
Photo taken at the opening ceremony of Chen Caodian's Calligraphy & Painting Exhibition
Core members of the Beijing Guangxi Culture and Art Promotion Association, including former President Wang Fengxian, former Secretary-General Lu Tianyou, current Secretary-General Huang Xu, Deputy Secretary-General Chen Wei, and oil painter Li Huaqi, also extended their congratulations and will visit the exhibition in the coming days.
The exhibition runs from April 25 to May 25, 2026. During this period, the Shen Art Museum will host a series of small-scale exchange events under the theme "Art and Health," including a special lecture featuring psychologist Ma Yantao as the keynote speaker. Visitors are invited to experience the unique charm of Chen Caodian's ink paintings at the Shen Art Museum, finding healing for body and mind through the tranquil contemplation of ink-wash paintings, and discovering a deeper connection between art and health.
Photo taken at the opening ceremony of Chen Caodian's Calligraphy & Painting Exhibition