Xin Yu by Chen Jia. [Photo/Tide News]

A contemporary ink painting by Jiaxing-born artist Chen Jia was on display at the Chinese Art Special Exhibition Week of the 61st Venice Biennale in Italy from May 9 to 16, marking a rare appearance of Chinese water-ink art on a major international art platform.

The work, titled Xin Yu (Heart Encounter), features a tiger dissolving into flowing layers of yellow, blue, and black ink, with only its eyes remaining clearly defined as it faces viewers with a calm expression. Chen said the tiger reflects his identity and represents openness to different people and experiences.

Chen is a professor at the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University and a member of La Maison des Artistes. His works often reinterpret traditional tiger imagery in Chinese painting, moving away from rigid classical forms toward more fluid, colorful compositions that blend Eastern and Western techniques.

Chen and his wife, Qian Manli, also an artist, work with nature-inspired subjects and have recently expanded their international exposure through exhibitions and commercial collaborations in Europe and Asia. Their works have appeared in venues including Paris and Hong Kong, reflecting growing overseas interest in contemporary Chinese ink art.

Chen plans to continue producing new works and holding annual solo exhibitions, aiming to raise the profile of Jiaxing's contemporary art scene.