Photo: Courtesy of James Zhang

Artist Cai Xiaosong won the Silver Jury Award in the painting category at the Salon Art Capital in Paris on April 3. Due to his innovative water ink paintings, Cai has become the first Chinese contemporary ink artist to win a major prize at such an event.

The Salon Art Capital, the largest contemporary art fair in France, was held on February 13 in Paris, with over 2,000 national and international artists and more than 40,000 visitors taking part.

The 2024 event included four sections: Artistes Français, Artistes Indépendants, Comparaisons, and Dessin & Peinture à l'eau. Cai's works competed in the Artistes Français section.

China's water ink art, a profound part of traditional Chinese culture, has gained a place on the world's art stage, said Cai. It also benefits from the common practice and exploration by China's outstanding ink painting artists.

Ink painting is the most exquisite part of Chinese art. "We cannot understand it apart from tradition and history, nor can we understand it only as tradition and history. The works are contemporary, the artists are living, and diversity is the trend of the world. We have our own mission: To have China's contemporary ink art be seen and become a force, which requires some cultural ambition," added Cai.

Global Times