Shan Fan's exploration in bamboo painting is a compelling narrative of cultural synthesis, bridging the nuanced worlds of traditional Chinese aesthetics and modern Western artistic practices. Through his series, Shan engages deeply with bamboo, not just as a subject, but as a vessel to convey the interplay of memory, identity, and the philosophical concept of "Ge Wu Zhi Zhi," which emphasizes understanding through the meticulous investigation of objects. His works are not merely artistic expressions but are dialogues between his Eastern roots and Western influences, exploring themes of resilience, adaptation, and the continuous flow of knowledge and tradition. Each piece is a testament to the transformative power of art in navigating and reconciling cultural dimensions, making the everyday act of painting a profound ritual of introspection and cultural reflection.
Shan Fan (*1959 Hangzhou, China) lives and works in Hamburg and Berlin. After studying traditional Chinese painting at the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in China, he moved to Germany in 1984. He graduated from the HFBK Hamburg in 1987. Numerous institutional exhibitions in Germany and abroad honour his artistic work to this day. In 2006, Shan Fan was honoured with the 'Medal for Art and Science' of the City of Hamburg. He also holds honorary doctorates and honorary professorships from various universities. He is the founding president of the Brand University of Applied Sciences and has been a member of the Free Academy of Arts in Hamburg since 2014.