On March 26, as an official event of Milan Art Week 2025, Wu Yue, the third-generation successor of Wu Zixiong’s glass engraving art, opened his solo exhibition Phantom City in Milan, Italy. This marks his first solo exhibition in Europe.

The exhibition features Wu Yue’s artistic creations from the past five years, covering a diverse range of media, including glass engraving, painting, photography, and installation art.

Among the highlights is the Phantom City series, a new collection of glass engravings. Wu Yue skillfully constructs island-like formations using glass, with each island displaying layered images—square glass blocks representing urban structures on the upper layer and irregularly shaped islands beneath. By employing artificial cold-cutting techniques, Wu Yue challenges the traditional rigidity of glass engraving, imbuing his works with a distinctive artistic allure.

Another notable piece, Along the River, draws inspiration from Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Song Dynasty painter Zhang Zeduan. Presented as a glass scroll, the artwork incorporates cutting and layered engraving techniques, blending the traditional “panoramic screen” (tongjing ping) with louver installations. Through light and shadow transitions, it creates a unique aesthetic experience. Wu Yue primarily employs line engraving techniques, complemented by relief carving and polishing, to enhance the transparency and visual depth of the piece.

The exhibition also includes installation artwork Memory Giant and video piece Childhood Box, both of which reflect the artist’s inner world and distinctive artistic vision. Wu Yue stated, “Culture thrives on exchange and fusion. As cultural exchanges deepen, the influence of Chinese traditional art on the world will continue to grow.”

Born in the post-95 generation, Wu Yue has been learning the craft since childhood under the guidance of his grandfather, Wu Zixiong, and his father, Wu Gang, building a solid foundation in glass engraving. At the age of 15, he pursued further studies in France, expanding his artistic perspective and creative approach. Standing on the shoulders of his predecessors, Wu Yue continuously experiments and innovates, striving to merge traditional Chinese glass engraving with contemporary Western art. By doing so, he hopes to introduce this ancient yet captivating art form to a wider audience. His glass engraving works have also gained international recognition, having been exhibited multiple times in France and Italy.

The exhibition will run until June 8, featuring interactive workshops where foreign audiences can experience the artistry of Taizhou glass engraving firsthand.