Ningbo artists join prestigious French exhibition

Three artists from Ningbo — Lai Guoqiang, Qi Ye, and Wu Wei — will showcase their work at the 236th Salon of French Artists, or Salon des Artistes Francais, at Paris's Grand Palais this February.

The exhibition, held from Feb 13 to 15, will bring together 25 Chinese artists in one of the world's oldest official art salons. Founded in 1667, the salon has been highly influential in the history of European art.

Husband-and-wife duo Lai and Qi are presenting works from their signature series. Born in 1971 in Zhenhai district, Lai studied at the China Academy of Art and later at the Central Academy of Fine Arts' Contemporary Art program. His landscapes fuse Impressionist light and color with expressive brushwork, integrating Zen philosophy to explore the harmony between matter and spirit. His exhibited piece uses warm tones to depict bamboo as a symbol of resilience and moral integrity.

"In Chinese culture, bamboo stands tall yet flexible, like those who face life's storms with calm and determination," Lai said.

Qi, born in Hangzhou and a longtime art educator in Ningbo, contributes a colorful, playful work centered on fish, capturing their sense of freedom in water.

"Fish swim freely, following the flow yet remaining themselves," she said. "Taoism emphasizes aligning with nature — acting effortlessly yet meaningfully."

Wu, born in 1975, presents a surrealist scene combining dreamlike architecture and coastal vistas to explore subconscious states. Several invited artists, including Wu, have previously exhibited at Ningbo's Nade Art Museum, catching the eye of curator Shang Hui. He aims to highlight contemporary Chinese art that dialogues with European academic traditions while developing its own language.

This year's invitation continues the salon's focus on contemporary Chinese art, offering international audiences a nuanced view of China's evolving artistic landscape.