5th Zhejiang Urban Fine Arts Biennale kicks off in Jiaxing

The 5th Zhejiang Urban Fine Arts Biennale kicked off at the West Hall of Jiaxing Art Museum two days ago.

Co-organized by the Zhejiang Artists Association, the Jiaxing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and other institutions, the exhibition features 228 selected works spanning such categories as Chinese painting, oil painting, watercolor and printmaking. With rich and varied artistic expressions, these works depict Red cultural heritage and the cultural lineage of Jiangnan, showcasing the landscape of fine art creation in Zhejiang in the new era.

Yu Chen, a Jiaxing-based painter, saw his work Morning Bustle in the Marketplace shortlisted for the show. Rooted in watercolor with layered detailing rendered in colored pencil, the piece captures fleeting moments in the daily lives of water-town residents and conveys the human warmth characteristic of Jiangnan.

“Relatively few creators explore this theme. When I was a child, my father often took me to wet markets and similar venues. Painting this subject stirs vivid memories,” Yu remarked.

Housed in Jiaxing since 2018, the Zhejiang Urban Fine Arts Biennale takes the 11 prefecture-level cities of Zhejiang province as its participating units. It continuously explores regional artistic characteristics and serves as an important platform for artists across the province to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

Wang Minjie, vice chairman of the Zhejiang Artists Association and Dean of the Zhejiang Oil Painting Academy, noted, “Regional artworks from across Zhejiang, brought together in diverse forms, have fueled the overall progress and development of fine arts in the province. For Jiaxing, this is not only a signature exhibition brand but also a driving force to advance and elevate the city’s fine art development.”

The exhibition will run through November 8 and admission is free.

By Liu Jia

Photo: Zhang Qifan

Editor: Qian Jixia

Senior Editor: Yang Jie