Chongqing of the Old Times 1997

Wu Guanzhong's ink painting presents a bustling cityscape, emerging from a landscape in grays, blacks and whites with tiny spots of yellow. I imagine Wu Guanzhong, brush in hand, carefully layering ink washes to capture the density of Chongqing, building up the image through delicate strokes and considered marks. There is a sense of intimacy here, as if the artist is deeply familiar with every nook and cranny of this city, remembering the past while looking at the present. The texture created by the ink invites you to wander through the narrow streets and alleys, and the strategic placement of spots of color hint at daily life and human presence. It reminds me of Chinese landscape painting, but with Wu Guanzhong's unmistakable modernist touch. There’s a conversation happening between tradition and modernity, inviting us to contemplate how we relate to the past and present. It reminds me that, as artists, we are all in an ongoing dialogue, sharing our visions and interpretations of the world across time.