Adam Shen Xudong / 沈旭东（ b.1965)

The Great Barrier Reef
大洋礁影
Chinese Ink on Rice Paper/宣纸水墨画
138 x 69 cm

Shen reimagines the Great Barrier Reef—one of the natural wonders of the world—through the expressive vocabulary of traditional Chinese landscape art. Rendered in richly textured brushstrokes and vibrant mineral pigments, the reef appears like an emerald crown set in the deep blues of the Pacific, where mountain-like ridges ripple under a wash of translucent water.

The upper portion of the painting features a poetic inscription written in gold:

大堡礁，显尽天下富贵色，犹如置身仙境中
The Great Barrier Reef displays all the rich and splendid colours under heaven — as if one were immersed in a celestial paradise.

This line situates the work not just as a landscape, but as a moment of awe — an encounter with sublime natural beauty. The use of gold leaf evokes imperial scrolls and sacred texts, enhancing the reverence with which the reef is portrayed.

By framing this modern ecological marvel in the aesthetics of shan shui (山水) painting, Shen expands the tradition outward — embracing not only China’s inner landscapes, but also the global terrain of shared natural heritage. The composition balances cartographic clarity with spiritual atmosphere, transforming the reef into a floating island of myth and meaning.

Artist Description

Adam Shen Xudong 沈旭东: A Renowned Master of Ink Painting and Calligraphy

Adam Shen Xudong, (b. 1965), is the founder of Sims Arts Academy Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. Together with his family, he established Sims Galleria to promote high art forms such as Chinese ink painting and calligraphy, which have garnered widespread admiration from the public.

Born in Shantou City (Swatow), Adam hails from a family with a long tradition in painting and calligraphy. His grandfather was a peranakan from Southeast Asia, with his influence, Adam began learning calligraphy and painting at a young age, eventually studying under renowned art masters.

He further honed his skills at the China Academy of Art, where he developed profound traditional techniques in landscape, bird-and-flower and figure painting.

Adam holds several esteemed positions in the art world: he is a director of the Chinese Artists Association, Chinese Calligraphers Association, the Shantou Overseas Friendship Association and a member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce. His works are highly prized by collectors across Southeast Asia, Europe, and America.