Qiu Anxiong is a leading contemporary artist based in Shanghai whose work bridges traditional Chinese ink painting with experimental animation and installation. A graduate of the China Academy of Art, Qiu rose to international prominence with his landmark animated trilogy, The New Book of Mountains and Seas, which reinterprets ancient Chinese mythology through the lens of rapid industrialisation and environmental degradation.
Working across media – including ink painting, video, and immersive installations – Qiu examines the cultural and ecological consequences of globalisation, often juxtaposing poetic imagery with unsettling narratives of transformation and loss. His distinctive visual language merges classical techniques with contemporary storytelling, positioning him at the forefront of a generation redefining ink art.
Qiu’s work has been exhibited internationally at institutions and biennials including the Venice Biennale, the Shanghai Biennale, and major museums across Asia, Europe, and the United States. His practice continues to engage urgent global issues while remaining deeply rooted in Chinese artistic traditions.
On the Pearl Lam Podcast, Qiu Anxiong joins Pearl Lam to reflect on the evolving landscape of Chinese contemporary art, discussing shifting global visibility, the legacy of the early 2000s art boom, and how artists today navigate cultural exchange and changing institutional frameworks.
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