Lauded Chinese ink artist Shao Fan on his journey and seeking ‘a sense of presence’ (opens in new tab)

Beijing-based artist Shao Fan’s first memories of Chinese aesthetics are linked to his grandmother’s stories – and her wardrobe. It was a sensory oasis in a bleak landscape. At the time, China was drained of colour, swept by the Cultural Revolution’s campaign against the “Four Olds” that sought to eradicate all traces of tradition. His grandmother would open drawers and unfold clothes, lay out accessories and let the past breathe for a moment in secret. Decades on, Shao has become one of the...