THE solo exhibition “Wind Touches” by renowned ink-wash painter Han Shuo is underway at Bund 18 Jiushi Art Gallery.

The exhibition features 74 paintings created by Han over the past three decades, ranging from celebrity portraits and landscapes to folk stories and traditional opera scenes.

Born in 1945 in Hangzhou, Han is the youngest of 10 children in the family. Under the influence of their father Han Xiaomei, a renowned artist who not only nurtured the interest of his children in art but also tutored them, Han took to painting at a young age. He and his four brothers all became celebrated artists.

Han rose to fame at a young age in the 1970s. At the beginning of his career, he drew Lianhuanhua (pocket-size comic books) and illustrations, a solid base for him to develop his painting technique and skill.

“The freehand brushwork in traditional ink-wash painting is such that none of the figures can be depicted 100 percent realistically,” Han said. “I had to figure out how to create them vividly via my own artistic language.”

His approach centers on simple outlines with nuanced colors combined with light black-and-ink shade, resulting in subdued elegance.

“I like the use of blank space in the painting,” he said. “Some empty space not only affords imagination for viewers, but also distinguishes the main subjects in the work.”

For example, celebrity portraits of Lu Xun, Shen Junru and Soong Ching Ling feature distinctive facial features reflective of their personalities — no easy task.

“Do you know why I call the exhibition ‘Wind Touches’?”, Han asked with a smile, “I don’t think my artworks contain a unique style, so I simply let them go with the wind.”

Dates: Now through October 8. 10am-6pm

Location: Bund 18 Jiushi Art Gallery

Address: 2/F, 18 Zhongshan Road E1

Free admission but reservation is required via the WeChat mini program Shanghai Jiushi Art.