Shao Yan, contemporary artist, is best known for using syringe ink shot and expressive brushstrokes to create abstract calligraphic paintings. Shao was born in Shandong Province in 1962. He studied Fine Arts at Shandong Laiyang University in 1981 and at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, in 1990. He currently lives and works in Beijing, China. Shao skillfully merges abstraction and traditional calligraphy, creatively presenting his subconscious images through modern calligraphy. The works reveal his various experiments and exploration of the deconstruction of form and the space of Chinese ideograms. Shao’s state of mind is portrayed by the diverse brushstrokes and the aura of his works has been strengthened through consistent practice and reviews.
His works have been exhibited in several international calligraphy exhibition, including Brushed Voices: Calligraphy in Contemporary China, Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, USA, 1998; Writing/Non-Writing, Hangzhou, 2005; and 1st International Calligraphy Biennial, Seoul, 2008. In 2012, his solo exhibitions were at Today Art Museum, Beijing, and Shanghai Ink Art Museum.
Alisan Fine Arts has exhibited Shao’s works in the travelling exhibition I Am in It - Contemporary Chinese Art Expressions, prior at Florida Gulf Coast University, California, USA in 2008, with catalogue published.
Shao's work has been collected by British Museum, London; Henry Luce Collection, USA; Sidney University, Australia; National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China.
