Jikai Zhu’s art practice aims to create a visual atmosphere that evokes intense emotions by combining traditional painting techniques with contemporary approaches. He paints his vision through a nostalgic lens, defined by the elements of simplistic shapes, muted color palettes, dark tonality, and grim landscapes. These are richly conceived to create powerful imagery that conveys feelings of grandeur. With a background in academic training, he applies classical techniques to his creative processes and crafts his signature style through the dynamic interplay between abstract and representational forms. Apart from his imaginative paintings, he also finds inspiration in everyday experiences and transforms them into meaningful canvases. These are reflected in his wide range of subject matter, including still lifes, figures, and interiors, narrating stories of melancholy, solitude, and decay. Rooted in his fascination with art history, he is heavily influenced by the 19th-century Romantics. Their melancholic depictions of man and nature deeply contribute to his style and thinking. He firmly believes in the importance of irrationality, passion, and frenzy in great artworks and is eager to push emotional expression to a more profound extent.