In the late 1980s, Xu Jiang studied in Germany on public scholarship. His experience in Germany opened another door for him—Western avant-garde and classic art were unbelievably fascinating. However, the traditional Chinese spirit was deeply rooted in his heart and never disappeared. After going back to China, he described himself as “a returning traveler” ; his artistic creation also experienced a similar course: from painting in his early years, to installation of new media, and finally returning to painting. It was a double return from Western art to Eastern poetic painting.

The grand composition and heavy colors and forms of Xu’s works leave his viewers with a strong impression. The metaphors and contemplations on history and culture in his works always draw people’s attention. Under his majestic force, the poetic expression on canvas is even more powerful and touching. In “Rhyme of Spring”, the artist brings his audience into a pure world after the spring snow. In the green background, snow swirls through the air while dots of yellow warm the entire picture. This work has exceeded a common landscape painting that simply depicts objects in the landscape; this is not simply a snowy forest, but the sense of spring inside the artist’s heart.