He described himself as an artist developing at a slow pace, in contrast to the more precocious nature of many of his peers. Shen chronicled his artistic journey in his memoir, The Narratable – Shen Xiaotong on Paintings, a collection of essays documenting his three-decade-long career and reflections on his artistic evolution.

"In recent years, Chinese contemporary art has been largely dominated by Western expressionist and abstract styles. However, Shen's painting style seems to challenge this mainstream trend as he chooses to revisit the essence of Eastern painting," remarked Chen.

"Through this exhibition and forum, we aim to raise questions about the spiritual essence of Chinese contemporary art and explore the traces of Eastern literati aesthetics," the gallerist emphasized.

Lan, the art historian, guided the audience through the history of wenrenhua, highlighting its key figures and the theories they advocated.

Wang Wei, a prominent poet and artist from the eighth century, is often referred to as the father of wenrenhua. He argued that "poetry and painting share the same source". Zhang Zao, a late eighth-century painter, believed that in artistic creation, one should draw inspiration from nature and one's innermost thoughts.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) artist and theorist Dong Qichang categorized Chinese painting into northern and southern schools by tracing their historical lineages and examining their aesthetic qualities. He emphasized the moral power and spiritual heights of artists, particularly in the context of literati art.