Traditional Chinese ink art met artificial intelligence (AI) in an international exhibition in London featuring more than 40 works by 16 artists from China. The exhibition opened at London South Bank University (LSBU) on Oct 28 (local time), with paintings, video works, and digital art among the exhibits.

Jointly organized by the Shandong Art Museum and the London Confucius Institute for Traditional Chinese Medicine, the London show marks the project's second stop, following its debut in Belgrade, Serbia. This stop will run through Nov 20.

The exhibition is divided into three sections, focusing on the contemporary interpretation of traditional ink art, experiments with AI, and cross-disciplinary approaches. Through these works, the artists explore how digital technologies can open up new forms of expression in Chinese ink art while retaining its traditional brushwork and cultural characteristics.

Rodney Day, group executive director and pro vice-chancellor for research, innovation and global affairs at LSBU, said ink art had long served as a medium of artistic expression and communication in Chinese civilization. He said Chinese ink painting sought to capture the essence of its subjects rather than reproduce every detail, leaving room for viewers' imaginations.

Yang Xiaogang, director of the Shandong Art Museum, said exchanges between Chinese and British artists could bring traditional and contemporary art into dialogue.

The delegation also organized academic exchanges in London, including workshops on Chinese calligraphy and painting, where participants learned about traditional brushwork techniques.

Attendees try their hand at Chinese ink painting by writing the character fu ("福" means fortune and happiness). [Photo/Dazhong News]