Film Screening & Discussion: Unsung Heroes of Ink

How do contemporary Chinese artists reinvent traditional aesthetics and materials? Unsung Heroes of Ink (2020), a documentary directed and produced by Olivia Wang, explores this question. This 25-minute film (in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles) shines new light on the often-overlooked role of paper in Chinese ink painting. Beijing-based artists Liu Dan (b.1953) and Shao Fan (b. 1964) discuss how paper shapes their work, alongside craftspeople from Jing County, Anhui Province in China, who hand-produce xuan paper using ancient methods. These artisans, who have dedicated their lives to mastering this craft, are the true “unsung heroes of ink”.

Following the screening, the film director will join us on Teams for a discussion.

Film trailer: https://www.scholarsinkstudio.com/unsung-heroes-of-ink

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Moderator: Dr Michelle Huang | Lecturer in Art History | University of St Andrews

Discussant: Ms Olivia Wang | Film Director

Olivia Wang is a curator and writer based in Hong Kong, with a focus on contemporary Chinese ink art. She has been an adjunct curator at the National Gallery Singapore since 2024. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, ArtAsiaPacific, Orientations, and the Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art, among others. She is on the panel of judges for the UOB Art in Ink Award. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MPhil from the University of Oxford.