Chu Chu
Introduction
Chu Chu is an accomplished ink painter, calligrapher, photographer, and oil painter. She is currently the Vice Secretary of Lanting Calligraphy Society and the Vice President of Zhejiang female Calligraphers Association in Hangzhou. She was born in 1975 in Hangzhou and graduated from the Department of oil painting at the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou in 2000, where she also received her MFA in new media in 2007, and in 2015 attained her PhD in calligraphy under the tutelage of Wang Dongling. Her diverse academic background covering traditional and modern media has led to her unique artistic language. She has been devoted to ink painting and seeks to incorporate this art form with photography and calligraphy. She has received several prestigious awards since 2000 including the Shiseido Prize of Best Female Photographer, the Three Shadows Photography Award, Beijing, 2011; Yearly Cutting-edge Photographer, selected by www.xitek.com, Beijing, 2010; Creative Award of New Media, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, 2006; Excellent Works Award, New Century Oil Painting Exhibition, Hangzhou, 2001; Excellent Works Award, Zhao Mengfu Prize, National Painting Competition, China, 2000.
Chu’s work has been widely exhibited in France, Germany, England, USA, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Important exhibitions include Jetlag: New Media Exhibition, Hannover Exhibition Centre, Hanover, Germany, 2012; Photo Paris, Louvre, Paris, France, 2014; Writing Non-writing, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China, 2015; Out of the Shadows: Contemporary Chinese Photography, Museum of Photographic Art, San Diego, USA, 2020; Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions, Asia Society Texas, Houston, USA, 2023.
Her works are in the collections of major museums including Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA; Centre Pompidou, Paris, France; Stavanger Museum, Stavanger, Norway, Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China.
Alisan Fine Arts first showcased Chu Chu's work in the gallery's landmark exhibition Beyond the Jade Terrace in 2014. Subsequently, we hosted her solo exhibitions Images of Objects and Awakening in Hong Kong in 2017 and 2023, respectively. In 2024, our New York gallery's group exhibition Landscape as Metaphor also featured her cross-disciplinary calligraphy. Over the past decade, we have exhibited her works at various art fairs worldwide, including Asian Art in London, Art Basel Hong Kong, Taipei Dangdai, and Ink Asia.
BIOGRAPHY
1975 Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
1980 Started to learn Chinese ink painting
2000 BA, Major in Oil Painting, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
Curator, Hangzhou group exhibition for 6 female artists Untitled, 2000 Present
2007 MA, New Media, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China, studied under Jiao Jian
Lecturer, Department of Art, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
2015 PhD, Calligraphy, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China, studied under Wang Dongling
Jury, 25th National Photographic Art Exhibition, China Millennium Monument, Beijing, China
2016 Guest professor, Faculty of Humanities, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Associate professor, Research Centre of Modern Calligraphy, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
2017 Christie's produced a video about Chu Chu's art
2018 Featured by Poetry Calligraphy Painting Quarterly No.2, Beijing, China
2020 Featured by Shanghai Photography, 1st issue 2020, Shanghai, China
Potry and All Things, Dialogue with Chu Chu Live-streaming, Hangzhou, China
Chu Chu: Photography and Multi-media, a talk of Chu Chu's new works, Department of Art, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
2022 Waving Clouds and Flwoing River cross media performance, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, Hangzhou, China
Present Vice Secretary, Lanting Calligraphy Society, Hangzhou, China
Vice President, Zhejiang Female Calligraphers Association, Hangzhou, China
Vice President, Zhejiang Culture and Tourism Photographers Association, Hangzhou, China
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
- Ink Shadow and Flowing Light: The Melodic Ensemble of Chu Chu's Ink Photography, Inaugural Shenzhen Metro Art Festival, Shenzhen, China
2022
- Rose and Pararkeet, Qiushui Villa, Hangzhou, China
- The Only Green: Chu Chu Solo Exhibition, Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, Hangzhou, China
- The Whole Creation: Multi-coloured 21g, Shadowless Art Space, Hangzhou, China
- Kiss & Beauty, Yinno Living Art Gallery, Hangzhou, China
2014
- Material Immaterial, 3 Gallery, Beijing; Kunst Licht, Shanghai, China
- About Material: Solo Exhibition of New Media, Photography, Calligraphy, Hanhouse Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
- Material Immaterial, Hihey.com, Beijing, China
- It’s Not It, OFOTO Gallery, Shang
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
-
ART SG 2025, Alisan Fine Arts, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
- Word Play, Alisan Fine Arts, Central, Hong Kong
-
Art Basel Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
- Landscape as Metaphor: Contemporary Voices, Alisan Fine Arts-New York, New York, USA
-
Beyond Tradition: The Metamorphosis of Chinese Art, Alisan Fine Arts, Cromwell Place, London, UK
-
Ink Asia, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
- Poetic Jiangnan·Dynamic Zhejiang: New Landscape Photographic Art Exhibition, Gongwang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
- Psychegraphics: Rejuvenating Contemporary Ink Art, Xiamen Chao Kuang Art Museum, Xiamen, China
- New Calligraphy for the Times: 20th Anniversary of Modern Calligraphy Research Centre of China Academy of Art, Yuan Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
- Kunming Art Biennale: Writing and Boundary, Yunnan Art Museum, Kunming, China
- Ink Alchemy: Beyond Tradition, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
-
Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions, Asia Society Texas, Houston, USA
- Wandering Through Nature: 3rd Art Scene of West Lake Photography Exhibition, Gongwang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
- THROUGH THE LENSES, Alisan Fine Arts-Aberdeen, Hong Kong
- In the Name of Flowers, T Contemporary Art Centre, Changsha, China
- Six-A-Side Exhibition: Mount Mogan Resident Art Season, Chaoyang Cultural Hall at Xiaoxi Street, Huzhou, China
- Lanting Calligraphy Society Biennial, Zhejiang Exhibition Hall, Hangzhou, China
- Out of the Shadows: Contemporary Chinese Photography, Museum of Photgraphic Art, San Diego, USA
- Walking Scenery, Moganshan Homestay Space, Shanghai, China
-
Taipei Dangdai, Alisan Fine Arts, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan
2019
- Group Exhibition, Chinese Art Gallery, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA
-
Writing Non-writing: Hangzhou International Modern Calligraphy Exhibition, Art Museum of China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
-
Women Ink | China Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts-Central, Hong Kong
-
Art West Lake · The 2nd International Ink Wash Fair, Hangzhou Peace International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hangzhou, China
- Art Basel Hong Kong, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
2018
-
40 Years of Chinese Contemporary Photography, OCAT Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
-
2018 Art Weihai: Research Exhibition of Famous Contemporary Ink Artists, Weihai Art Museum, Qingdao, China
- The Voice of the Brush Part 2, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
- HOPE A charity exhibition celebrating the works of outstanding contemporary Chinese women artists, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
- Photo Fairs Shanghai, Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
2017
2016
- Writing Non-writing, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
- Tracing the Brush, Transformed Text, Inauguration of Ink Asia, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong
- 2nd Three Shadows Experimental Image Open Exhibition, Beijing, China
2014
- Beyond the Jade Terrace, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
- FOTO Fever Paris, Grand Palais, Paris, France
- Photo Paris, Louvre, Paris, France
- International Biennial of Lanting Calligraphy Commune, Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Contemporary Photography Exhibition by New Artists, Hangzhou, China
- Material-Word, Bottega Veneta Art Space, Shanghai, China
- In situ: Exposition Photo Revelation, Paris, France
- Impression of Pudong: Exhibition by New Artists, Pudong Library, Shanghai, China
- Jetlag: New Media Exhibition, Hannover Exhibition Centre, Hanover, Germany
- Tokyo Photo 2012: International Photography Fair, Tokyo Midtown Hall, Tokyo, Japan
- Calligraphy Exhibition by Chinese Young Artists, Jinhua, China
2011
- Midsummer, OFOTO Gallery, Shanghai, China
- Fantasy: 3rd Dali International Photography Exhibition, Dali, China
- Contemporary Photography in China, Tasveer Studio, India
- Photo LA+Art LA Projects: Art Fair, Los Angeles, USA
2010
- Contemporary Photography in China, AKI Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
- Beyond the Body: Contemporary Video Exhibition, MOCA, Shanghai, China
- 1st Jimei International Contemporary Art Festival, Art Museum of Jimei University, Xiamen, China
- Another Landscape: 1st Photography Annual Exhibition by xitek.com, Inter Art Centre, 798 Art Zone, Beijing; ESPON Gallery, Moganshan Art Zone, Shanghai; Dali, China
- Moving, Likailin Contemporary Fine Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
- Photo Beijing, Agricultural Exhibition Centre of China, Beijing, China
2008
- Genius, Shopping Gallery, Shanghai, China
- Creative Women Unite, Houston, USA
- It's Not It, OFOTO gallery, Shanghai, China
- The Light of Searching and the Lotus at Dawn: 12th Lishui International Photography Festival, Photography Museum of Lishui, Lishui, China
- It's Not It Tool: 3rd Lianzhou International Photography Festival, Lianzhou Culture Centre, Lianzhou, China
- A Glance: Ten Viewers of the West Lake, Tne China Academy of Art "Mixed Reality" Post-Graduate Exhibition, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
- The Alchemy Shadow, Lianzhou, China
2006
- It's Not It Tool: Light and Shade, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
- L’ Art de Produire Art Exhibition, Pompidou Centre, Paris, France
2005
- China, Green: 1st Video Festival, Ag-Art Loft, Hangzhou, China
- Thoughts are Seen, Hangzhou, China
2004
- New Media Arts Festival, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
2003
- 3rd National Chinese Young Artists Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
2001
- New Century Oil Painting Exhibition, Hangzhou, China
2000
- 2nd Round of Salon Youth Outreach, Hangzhou, China
- Untitled, 2000 Present: Six Female Artists Group Exhibition, Hangzhou, China
SELECTED AWARDS
2011 Shiseido Prize of Best Female Photographer, Three Shadows Photography Award, Beijing, China
2010 Yearly Cutting-edge Photographer, selected by www.xitek.com, Beijing, China
2006 Creative Award of New Media, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China
2001 Excellent Works Award, New Century Oil Painting Exhibition, Hangzhou, China
2000 Excellent Works Award, Zhao Mengfu Prize, National Painting Competition, China
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA
Pompidou Centre, Paris, France
Stavanger Kunstmuseum, Stavanger, Norway
Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Shanghai, China
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2023 Photographic Apocalypse, Zhejiang Photographic Press, Zhejiang, China
2022 Rose and Parakeet, Writing Non-writing Culture and Art, Hangzhou, China
2022 Photography Inspiration, Zhejiang Photographic Press, Hangzhou, China
2019 Xunzhao Taohuayuan, Hangzhou Press, Hangzhou, China
2016 Wuwufeishi - Chu Chu, Jianghong Museum of Art, Hangzhou, China
2014 Beyond the Jade Terrace, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2014 Chu Chu Photography: MATERIAL IMMATERIAL 2014, +3 Gallery, Beijing, China
2013 The Adjustment of Controversies, Zhejiang, China
2011 Contemporary Chinese Photography, China Youth Publishing Group, China
2010 25 Cutting-edge Chinese Photographer, Zhejiang Photographic Press, China
2008 Chu Chu, China Academy of Art Press, Hangzhou, China
1997 Poem “Xiangdie” was published in Genesis periodical, overseas & Poem “Bottle” was published in Author periodical