Zewei Ning

Hello, I am Ning Zewei (Tianyou), an independent artist born in Beijing, China, in 1954.

From an early age, I devoted myself to the study of traditional Chinese art. Throughout my artistic career, I have been deeply engaged in the study and practice of Chinese painting, calligraphy, and seal carving. I studied Chinese painting under the renowned artists Wang Jiao and Qin Lingyun, calligraphy under Ouyang Zhongshi, and seal carving under Liu Tiebao. Over the years, I have extensively studied the works of masters of Chinese landscape painting, both ancient and modern, and have travelled throughout China to visit its famous mountains and landscapes. Through observing nature, painting from life, and studying the works of past masters, I have continued to deepen my understanding of the traditional spirit of Chinese landscape painting.

The traditional Chinese landscape painting principle of “searching through extraordinary peaks to gather material for one’s draft” has had a profound influence on my artistic practice. I believe that true landscape painting is not simply a depiction of natural scenery, but an expression of the artist’s perception and understanding of nature, life, and the inner spiritual world.

While remaining rooted in...