“Not a mark is wasted; there is no excess. This is painting reduced to its essence” Luise Guest, curator and author, 2016

The order and apparent simplicity of Hu Qinwu’s work belies a sophisticated understanding and employment of Kong, the resonance of empty space. Hu Qinwu encourages interior reflection, both through the meticulous process of building up the surface of his paintings, and in the viewer’s experience of his immersive canvases. His controlled and deliberate practice reduces painting to its essential elements and reflects upon enduring values, whilst highlighting Buddhist beliefs in continuity and connectedness in a time of great transformation.

Hu Qinwu was born in Shandong, China in 1969 and currently works in Hangzhou as a painter, photographer and printmaker. In 1990 he graduated from the Oil Painting Department, Taian Normal Academy, Shandong, and received a Masters Degree (Painting) from Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing in 2008.