• Zhiliang pursues a refined literati aesthetic shaped by inkstone and scholarly tradition
• His works combine classical forms, naturalistic detail and a contemporary sensibility
• He sees the preservation and renewal of inkstone carving as a cultural responsibility

Born in Wuyuan, the historic home of She inkstones, Zhiliang Wang is a fifth-generation Shanghai inkstone carver, an Intangible Cultural Heritage tradition. Rooted in a tradition that dates back more than two millennia, his practice has developed a distinctive literati aesthetic. Zhiliang’s works merges the classical elegance of the Tang through Ming dynasties with the refinement of imperial craftsmanship, the realism of the Shanghai School and the scholarly sensibility of seal carving. Through stone, form and inscription, Zhiliang renews the inkstone as both a functional object and a medium of contemporary artistic expression. He has presented several major solo exhibitions, introduced inkstone culture to the 2022 China International Import Expo, and was awarded the title of Senior Technician by the China Light Industry Federation.