Lao Dan’s aim is to revive the traditional approach of Chinese painting, using the “thousand colors
of black”. His mastery of the brush, energy and inspiration are immediately felt by certain viewers.
His work had this effect on me, and I have to say that I had been, for a long time, looking in China
for such an artist combining the breadth of painters such as Shitao, the 18th century master, and the
freedom of modernity.

One could say that modernity is in fact a recent western approach and that its basic principles were
long ago enunciated by Chinese. We can discuss that if you like.But although it is truly Chinese,
the work of Lao Dan has a universal striking appeal and also displays a complexity and density rarely
encountered. My aim is to bring Lao Dan to his due recognition, he is an artist who lives for his art
and has the essential quality of a master, sincerity.

Lao Dan is quite a-typical in the inflamed art world of nowadays China. Many Chinese artists just want
to please the foreigners or find a way towards wealth and celebrity. The end result is often series
of clichés or poster art. I believe that truth always lies in yourself and that real artists should
always work first for themselves. Lao Dan does that.