Dan Xu (dan-she) is a contemporary Chinese-Canadian artist celebrated for her distinctive approach to landscape painting, shaped by a fusion of cultural heritage and deep engagement with nature. Born and raised in China, her family were ceramic artists, she developed a profound love for art and a lasting fascination with traditional Chinese painting techniques—particularly the philosophies and aesthetics of Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) landscape painting.

Echoes of Tang, Visions of Canada

Since immigrating to Canada in 2001, Xu has continued to explore her artistic practice, embracing plein air painting as a means of connecting directly with the natural world. Her two artist residencies at the Banff Centre allowed her to immerse herself in the dramatic wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. These experiences, along with time spent painting in coastal settings, have significantly influenced her work, offering firsthand encounters with the land that have deepened her understanding of both the natural environment and the ancient artistic traditions she reveres.

Directly influenced by her surroundings, Dan’s practice reflects a thoughtful blend of Eastern and Western aesthetics. Through her landscapes, she articulates a personal and cultural dialogue—bridging the artistic traditions of her homeland with the natural beauty of her adopted country.

"I think I learned something from China and I also learned something from Canada," she says. "I want to be a bridge between the gap of two countries with different cultures."

Bibliography:

Brown, Matthew. “These May Look Like Traditional Chinese Landscape Paintings — But They're Actually The Bay Of Fundy.” CBC Arts, 4 July 2019.

Inspired by New Brunswick blog: https://inspiredbynb.ca/blog/dan-xu/