The ink painting break the boundaries between Chinese ink aesthetics and Western abstract works by blending the qualities of both traditions to create a brand new artistic landscape. In 2004, Gao donated some of his manuscripts, ink paintings and photographs to the University Library, including these paintings.
Gao was born in Ganzhou (in Jiangxi province) and is a well-known novelist, essayist, playwright, painter and literacy critic. Gao became the first Chinese to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2000 for his acclaimed novel Soul Mountain. In November 2001, Gao received an Honorary Doctorate from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.