TEMPUS FUGIT —— Chen Xiangbo's Fine-Brush Paintings Show for Ringing The Year Of Pony
JAN.24th, 2026 - APR.7th, 2026
PREFACE | Huang Liping
As China has stepped into the currents of globalization over the past decades, it has been easy to fall into a trap: taking everything abroad as “advanced” and dismissing anything related to Chinese tradition as “outdated.” Yet culture and art are not like economic systems or scientific breakthroughs, where novelty often feels like progress. They move to their own rhythm. What we once abandoned may have been the spark for someone else’s innovation; what we chased as fashion may have been the tradition others had just broken free from. Without confidence, blind imitation rarely leads us to our true value.
This is why I hold particular respect for Chen Xiangbo, who has remained committed to the classical fine‑brush painting while opening himself to new possibilities. His artistic journey unfolded during a time when traditional Chinese art was under immense pressure. From Hunan to Guangzhou, and later to Shenzhen—the very frontier of reform—he faced the full force of change. Yet he is not only upheld his identity as a fine‑brush painter, but also absorbed openness into his creative practice.
He trained his fundamental painting skill patiently in his early days, believing that true success comes from carrying one pursuit to its fullest practice. He studied theory, published widely, and stated that “fine‑brush painting means more than realism,” carving out his personality in global artistic discourse. He upheld tradition without treating it as inflexible, and welcomed contemporary schools, believing art should enrich rather than oppose one another. Nor did he become a pedantic traditionalist—he embraced trends, experimented with designer toys and NFTs. When I replaced the usual Year of the “Horse” poster with the word “Pony,” he immediately chose the Barbie‑pink version. Most precious of all, he treats painting as naturally as breathing, as a regular thing he does every day. “Every role can be retired,” he said, “but being a painter lasts a lifetime.” Even amid the crazy busyness of daily work and life, his fine‑brush works radiate composure and elegance, like poems of time flowing against the restless world, offering clarity and calm that can wash away the anxiety of mind. Compared with his chaos working and living environment, I would like to take his art as a kind of surrealism with an expression of Chinese fine‑brush painting.
This exhibition takes “time” as its central concept, featuring works inspired by Chinese twenty‑four solar terms and the twelve zodiac animals—paintings that capture the subtle traces of passing seasons. Alongside there are the artist’s classic lotus series, where serene shades of blue suggest time momentarily suspended. Set against the fleeting of “TEMPUS FUGIT”, the interplay of stillness and motion resonates with the exhibition’s theme, creating a dialogue between permanence and transience.
January 2026
Expert Commentary
Tian Liming, President of the China National Academy of Paintings
In Xiangbo’s paintings, the pure nature of all beings is revealed via his wisdom of controlling his brushstroke and capturing the postures of the creatures he paints. Each leaf and each ripple of water is painted with clarity that embodies his openness and sincerity. Drawn to nature and enriched by culture, Xiangbo works, with diligence and honesty breathing in harmony with the rhythms of the natural environment and growing alongside them.
Feng Dazhong, Member of the Chinese Artists Association
Xiangbo is recognized for his calm and humble nature, valuing friendship more than fame or fortune. His meticulous bird‑and‑flower paintings carry forward the legacy of Song dynasty literati painting, while drawing inspiration from diverse traditions, especially those of Hunan and Lingnan brushwork style. Through this rich blend of influences, he has gradually shaped a distinctive artistic style of his own.
Xiao Yutian, Member of the Chinese Artists Association
Chen Xiangbo’s paintings are vivid, luminous, and full of vitality. They echo the Song masters’ quest for the essence of things and their devotion to studying nature, while also reflecting his keen observation of everyday life. His art reveals a rare gift—the ability to distill and refine, to unite self with nature, and to shape scenes that flow directly from the heart.
Zou Chuan’an, Member of the Chinese Artists Association
His works transform complexity into clarity and approach the difficult with effortless grace. His paintings convey a sense of spacious calm in large sizes, and delicate and finely wrought in small sizes. Warm yet profound, simple yet enduring, his paintings embody the quiet rhythm of nature. Subtle and poetic, they offer viewers not only visual delight but also a moment of peace and reflection amid the flow of daily life.