An artistic autodidact

His ongoing solo exhibition Dispersion and Generation at Today Art Museum presents his ink paintings, Chinese modern art history studies, installations and architectural works.

"The exhibition is not a retrospective, but an academic case to raise questions and discussions," the 66-year-old says.

The key word "dispersion" was inspired by thermodynamics and energy dispersing from higher to lower temperatures in an isolated space, leading eventually to a state of equilibrium.

"I use the concept to describe cultural assimilation," Pan says, giving the example of how blue jeans have become a worldwide fashion, starting from being the work uniforms of Native American cowboys. "I'd like to do something in reverse."

It took seven days to install all the works, which occupy three floors of the entire exhibiting space at the museum's Hall 1.

The first part features Pan's most recognized ink paintings, among them a 25-meter-long scroll and 10 other smaller works, with the lotus as a constant theme.

A screen the same length as the long scroll, shows Pan's process of creation.

"Pan's paintings are very imaginative and fully express the nature of Chinese ink art. At this point he has gone further than other contemporary ink artists," comments art critic Shao Dazhen.

"However, he hasn't yet stepped into the territory of abstraction, since he knows well that the imaginary nature of traditional Chinese ink art provides infinite aesthetic tolerance and possibilities."

"What's on show is Pan's world of ink art, as well as his world of spirit."

The second part of the exhibition demonstrates Pan's studies of China's modern art history. All the related documentation has been arranged into a 90-meter-long timeline.

"Pan's bold approach in media is what other traditional ink artists can't do. His identity as an educator brings about a great thirst for new knowledge," says Today Art Museum Director Hsieh Su-chen.

The third part of the exhibition displays Pan's two installations. One is a projection featuring a lotus along with English letters falling like snow and was previously exhibited in the Chinese Pavilion of the 54th Venice Biennale, in 2011.

The other is a fancy rocket placed in a dark room that is decorated to simulate the universe.

"I have been a huge fan of technology since I was a child," says Pan, who made his first valve at the age of 9, and a crystal receiver at the age of 11.

His passion and talent for science is reflected in the exhibition's fourth part, which features 16 of his architectural designs.

Pan makes clear he is only an amateur architect and adds that he didn't graduate from secondary school and this makes him the least qualified of higher art educators.

Even so, self-study saw him become director of the China Academy of Art, moving on to his current position as director of Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Pan, however, says life itself is his biggest achievement.

"What you do is somewhat an uncontrollable contingency. But what you can choose is how to do it."

zhangzixuan@chinadaily.com.cn