Du Dakai is one of the representative artists of new Chinese ink painting. He was admitted to the Central Academy of Arts & Design in 1978 and studied with Mr. Zhu Dania. Around 1990, Du Dakai embarked on the exploration of the contemporaneity of Chinese ink painting. Taking the life feelings and visual experiences of contemporary life as a starting point, he not only retained the charm of Chinese ink painting but also incorporated the strengths of Western painting and design, thus creating a new form of Chinese painting. Du Dakai’s early experience in decorative art endows his ink painting works with a unique and strong sense of formal composition and designing. It also helps him form an open artistic vision and practice system, enriching and enhancing the expressiveness of Chinese ink painting with diverse means of expression.
This exhibition displays more than 120 pieces/sets of works created by Du Dakai from 2006 to 2024, including ink paintings on paper, watercolor paintings on paper, publications and manuscripts, etc. It includes his works on multiple themes such as landscapes, exotic customs, rural scenery, still life, figures, and public art. In particular, it showcases his new creations in recent years, systematically presenting his long-term thinking on contemporary Chinese ink painting along with his innovative achievements.
Source: Tsinghua University Art Museum
