Lot 17

East and West Art Gallery, Melbourne, acquired directly from the artist.

Chen Ning was born in Shanghai, China in 1957. He graduated from the Shanghai Arts and Crafts School and is a member of the Shanghai Artists Association. In 1989, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he has continued his career as a professional artist.

Chen Ning first gained recognition in the art world in 1979 when his traditional Chinese painting "In My Heart" was selected for the Shanghai Art Exhibition. During the 1980s, he rose to prominence in China's comic art scene, producing a number of acclaimed works for Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House, including Song Shijie, Ma Chao, The Assassination at Bolang, Liu Xiu, Heroes of Lüliang, and Journey to the West. His 1986 comic "Sister's Heart" was featured in the inaugural international issue of China Lianhuanhua (Comic Book) Magazine and was also selected for that year's Shanghai Annual Art Exhibition. In 1995, he completed "We · Illustration", and his Chinese painting "Liu Xiu", published by Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House during the 2014 Shanghai Book Fair, was chosen for the 12th National Fine Arts Exhibition in China. His painting "In Remembrance" was later included in the 4th National Easel Painting Exhibition hosted by the China Artists Association in 2016.

Chen Ning's illustrations are known for their expressive style, focusing not only on realism but also on capturing the psychological depth of his subjects and the emotional resonance of their surroundings. He believes that overconfidence in art is a creative trap, stating: "Art must change-not just in form, but in spirit and tone."

After relocating to Australia in 1989, Chen Ning immersed himself in the study of ink painting, striving to blend traditional techniques with contemporary artistic ideas. His first solo exhibition in Australia was held at the Raja Idris Gallery in Melbourne that same year, followed by another ink painting exhibition at East and West Art Gallery in 1991. In 1993, his work "Swinging" won the Ross Art Award in Melbourne. Since then, he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions across Melbourne, Sydney, and Hobart, gaining widespread recognition and respect from both local and Western collectors and fellow artists.