Many of China's contemporary artists are facing an identity crisis. They are reflecting on how their experimental works relate to traditional Chinese arts and to contemporary art practices in the west. Qin Feng is one of those artists. His current exhibition in Beijing reveals his search for answers.The exhibition offers a journey over time and space. It's a dialogue between past and present - East and West. On display are Qin Feng's creations. They were inspired by his predecessor Bada Shenren whose authentic pieces stand just next to Qin's works.Qin Feng said, "It's an homage to Bada Shanren. He is a pioneer of Chinese and world contemporary art. But what is neglected, from the East to the West is that China has a rich tradition of abstract expressionism. Chinese calligraphy is the one of the best proofs. But even many of us, don't know how to appreciate it."Bada Shanren also known as Zhu Da in the 17th century was a loyalist of the fallen Ming Dynasty. His works were created during the time of the Dutch Baroque master Johannes Vermeer. Like Vermeer, the Chinese calligrapher and painter also exemplifies exceptional aesthetic sensibility and technical excellence.exhibition siteThis year marks the 302nd anniversary of Bada Shanren's birth. Qin Fen has his own approach to building upon the Chinese cultural heritage. But it is an approach that also connects to new aspects of contemporary life, in China and around the world.Artists and critics from home and abroad are invited to discuss the topic from the perspective of East and West.Born in Xinjing Uygar Autonomous Region, Qin Feng graduated from Shandong Art Institute in 1981. He experimented with the avant garde movement in China during the 1980s and early 1990s. He moved to Berlin in 1996 where he continued to experiment. His success in Europe was followed by a move to the US.Li Tiejun, the curator of the exhibition says it took nearly four months to select the works and 20 days to set them in the Beijing Contemporary Art Museum. The exhibition will run to mid September.artwork