A new art exhibition has launched at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV), showcasing the ancient Chinese art form of ink painting.
Fifty Shades of Ink: Ink Paintings from the AGGV Collection, curated by AGGV’s Curator of Asian Art, Dr Heng Wu, highlights the Gallery’s rich collection of Asian ink paintings and offers visitors a deeper look at material traditions behind the medium.
It also explores a foundational principle in the tradition of Chinese ink painting: “Ink has five shades” (墨分五色).
First introduced in the 9th century by artist and art historian Zhang Yanyuan, this idea has shaped the way ink art has been understood, created, and appreciated for more than a thousand years.
Also on view are ink sticks and stones, giving visitors a glimpse into the process behind creating traditional ink.
“Every ink painting begins long before the first brushstroke. Ink sticks and ink stones are the tools that make the medium itself possible,” said Wu.
“Made from soot and animal glue, the ink stick is ground with water on the stone to produce liquid ink. The density, tone, and fluidity of that ink depend on the artist’s control over the pressure, rhythm, and duration of grinding.”
This exhibit opened at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria on Saturday, December 6th, and will remain on view until April 26, 2026.
Fifty Shades of Ink: Ink Paintings from the AGGV Collection
- Where: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss Street
- When: Until April 26th, 2026 – hours vary
