Wang Jie/Shanghai Daily news

Born in 1937, Yongkang, Zhejiang Province
Graduated from Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in 1963
Awarded the silver medal at the 7th National Fine Art Competition
Chen's exhibitions traveled to Germany, South Korea and Japan, and around China

In his newly renovated studio overlooking Suzhou Creek, 68-year-old Chen Jialing is a rarity among top local artists - he is able to "taste" life and art in a leisurely and luxurious style.
Situated on the 31th floor of a residential building right next to the creek on Xikang Road, Chen's studio is impressive.
The 150-square-meter room was originally a three-room apartment but he has made it a single space.
"You can see my personal art trail everywhere in the studio," Chen says proudly.
A graduate of the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now the China Academy of Fine Arts) in 1963, Chen first won fame for his "Lotus" series in which traditional ink-wash techniques were fused with a poetic and modern recollection. And "Lotus" symbols from that series appear everywhere in his studio - on the huge scrolls hanging on the wall, inside the wash basin or on the shoe-rack at the entrance.
"I made these ceramics for the studio in my kiln," Chen says. "I didn't expect that the visual effect would be so terrific and many guests have told me that it is the most beautiful studio they have ever seen."
That's the artist's privilege and has nothing to do with money power because even a wooden chair is from his own exclusive output.
"I first designed the shape of the chair and then pasted it with ceramic tiles I had made," Chen says.
A Shanghai native, Chen's artistic achievements cover the fields of painting and now ceramics. It was only in recent years that the veteran's interest in "China's china" was fired.
"Believe it or not, I did ceramics in the first six months of my career and then turned to ink-wash paintings," he says. "I am quite satisfied with my current status because I now have time and money to do whatever I like in art."
Apart from the paintings and ceramics, the artist has another hobby - playing mah-jong.
"It's good for the mind," he says jokingly. "I like to play with good friends all-night."
As incredible as it sounds at his age, Chen often comes to the studio to paint the morning after he has been playing mah-jong all night.
"Some are amazed at my energy," he says. "It's a piece of cake because both mah-jong and painting are my favorite activities. How can you get exhausted when you're doing the things you like?"
It's common truism that the "golden period" for a traditional ink-wash painters only comes after 50 when he gathered enough "qi" (spirit) in his brush. Obviously, Chen is no exception to this rule.