ArtEvol 2025 / Shaolin Zhong
shaolin.zhong
Curve Composition 26 , 2024 Dye on cotton 172 × 120 cm
Shaolin Zhong is a leading figure in contemporary Chinese dyeing art with a practice spanning more than four decades. Zhong has redefined traditional textile and dyeing techniques by integrating them with concepts of abstraction and deconstruction, creating works noted for vibrancy, depth and transformative storytelling. A graduate of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in China and Tama Art University in Japan, Zhong later taught at the College of Art and Design at Beijing University of Technology. Now based in Thailand, Zhong draws inspiration from landscapes, seascapes, and flora and fauna to explore a profound connection with the natural world. The practice combines traditional dyeing processes with modern aesthetics, employing wax and resist methods alongside water-based pigments that diffuse organically, and oil-based pigments layered with precision. Characterised by dynamic curves, intricate layering and harmonious palettes, Zhong’s work challenges boundaries between fine art and craft. Through pioneering innovative approaches, Zhong has influenced a new generation of artists and contributed to the global recognition of Chinese dyeing art.
Artwork Introduction Curve Composition series draws inspiration from the expansion of its subject matter, employing the human torso as an unconventional motif in painting to articulate contemporary reflections and artistic creativity. The torso, restructured and rhythmically arranged with colour, generates a striking visual impact, embodying vitality, lyrical fluidity, softness and a sense of romantic imagination. The works integrate traditional Chinese dyeing techniques with the language of painting while engaging with contemporary art currents. By transcending conventional modes of thought, Shaolin Zhong pursues harmony between humanity and nature, echoing existential ideas of interdependence. Abstraction, transformation and ornamentation are interwoven to form a unique pictorial language of dye painting. Through dyeing and washing, a distinctive style emerges, merging craftsmanship with poetic expression. The series unites the elegance of curves with the whimsicality of the torso, creating a poetic fusion that embodies Zhong’s aesthetic philosophy, curiosity and vision of an as yet unknown world.
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