India, Dec. 17 -- Renowned Chinese painter Fan Zeng, 87, has announced the birth of his only biological son, while simultaneously severing relations with his other children, reigniting a long-running family dispute in the public eye.

Fan, celebrated for his contributions to contemporary Chinese art, has seen his works sell for more than four billion yuan (US$567 million) between 2008 and 2024. Over ten of his paintings have fetched over 10 million yuan at auction, including a 1991 work that sold for 18.4 million yuan at a Beijing auction in 2011, as per a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Fan is also a respected calligrapher. His calligraphy is valued at around 200,000 yuan (US$28,000) per 0.11 square metre. His works have been...