As a “Social calligrapher”, Pan Jianfeng has been working as a visual artist for the past 17 years in Shanghai, China. He moved to the old town of Porvoo, Finland in 2016. The self-elected exile to Finland can be seen as his reflection on city life, intertwined with struggling for survival and meaning as an artist.
Working as a PHD researcher at The Modern Calligraphy Research Center, China Academy of Art, he has titled his art practice as “Radicalink”; a new way of looking at calligraphy (a basic human writing knowledge and life philosophy created by intellectuals in Chinese history) by integrating our social contents. He creates new characters and images through ink writing and it is radical to see calligraphy and Eastern writing, as one of the most traditional artistic approaches, used as a tool - a third language, to criticize modern city life. His art practice, from the studio to the public space, enacts the political while challenging the split between west and east in the contemporary context.
Education
2018- PHD candidate, Contemporary Calligraphy Research Center, China Academy of Art
1999-2001 University of Central England/Birmingham Institute of Art & Design— MA Visual Communication (Distinction Award)
1996-1999 China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China — MA Visual Communication
1992-1996 China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China — BA Visual Communication
Residency
2009 “7th Asia-Europe Art Camp -Moved, Mutated and Disturbed Identities”, Casino Contemporary Art Museum, Luxemburg
2009 Helsinki International artist residency, Finland
2018 “Aomori Triennial-Unlimited” , Aomori contemporary art center, Japan
Exhibition
2021
“ The landscape of souls”, Glasshouse Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
“Color is common thing” , Porvoo Triennial 2021
2020
“The best moments”, Akola, Oulu, Finland
“With Hope” Maker’s Gallery, Vaasa, Finland
“Characters by heart” , Stromforsin Ruukki Gallery, Finland
“Writing Non-Writing Hangzhou International Modern Calligraphy Festival” ,
China Academy of Art Gallery, Hangzhou China
“Consciousness of Borders”, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou China
2019
“Six minds on paper”, Gallery Rankka, Helsinki, Finland
“Typocraft Helsinki 2019”, Gallery Lokal, Helsinki, Finland
“Byrokrati”, Gallery Rankka, Helsinki, Finland
2018
“1000 M2 Home”, MoCA Shanghai, China
“VIIVA” , Lokal Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
“Aomori Triennial-Unlimited” , Aomori contemporary art center, Japan
“Mind forest” , Baltic theater house, St. Petersburg, Russia
2017
“Typocraft Helsinki 2017”, Lokal Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
“United Story”, Habitare, Helsinki, Finland
“I was drunk last night-Pan’s solo show”, July Gallery, Shanghai, China
2015
“New China, New Art ”, Lakeside Gallery, Nottingham, UK
“Shanghai Ever” , MoCA Shanghai, China
“5th The International Calligraphy Exhibition” , China Academy of Art Gallery
2014
“CHINA TIME-Public Sign and Visual Communication ” , Designxport, Hamburg, Germany
“Kiasma Wall Project”, Helsinki, Finland
2013
International Modern Calligraphy Exhibition in Hangzhou, China Academy of Art
2011
“Nostalgia - East Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition”, Korea Cultural Center, Seoul, and
MoCA Shanghai, China
“Follow+”, MoCA Shanghai, China
2010
“Republic-NOTCH”, ddm Shanghai
“7th Asia-Europe Art Camp -Moved, Mutated and Disturbed Identities”, ddm Shanghai
International Modern Calligraphy show, China academy of art, Hangzhou
2009
“7th Asia-Europe Art Camp -Moved, Mutated and Disturbed Identities”, Casino Contemporary Art Museum, Luxemburg
“The Spring of Winter Vallery-Pan Jianfeng’s solo exhibition”, Bund18 Shanghai, China
2008
“Intrude 366-art&life”, Zendai Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai, China
Commission
2021
“The Art of Happiness” book, Finnish Pavilion, Dubai world Expo, the United Arab Emirates
Sino-Finnish Characters for “Recipe of Happy Helsinki Home”, Beijing Design Week, China
2019
“It’s truly a country with thousand lakes” Live action writing and posters, Helsinki Airport, Finand
2017
“Pure Energy” Free writing performance and Information graphic painting for education room, Finnish Pavilion, Astana World Expo, Kazakhstan
2010
Chinese sign for Finnish Pavilion, Shanghai world Expo, China