Ink artist shares 'Soul Whispers' in paintings on show

Soul Whispers, an ongoing exhibition showing dozens of paintings by Zhang Jiangzhou, a member of China National Academy of Painting, expresses the artist's thoughts on the relations between people and cities, and between humankind and nature.

In his work, Zhang questions overconsumption, emptiness of the mind and hedonism among modern people, conveying a sense of loneliness.

Zhang's ink paintings show solid figurative techniques. He is also influenced by the style of German expressionism, and meanwhile retains that touch of refinement considered a hallmark in classical literati paintings from ancient China.

"When feeling lonely has become common today," Zhang says, "only art can save people from the spiritual predicament and make them feel bright and delighted again."