Trace the evolution of modern Chinese ink painting through a synthesis of regional heritage and global perspective.
In the turbulent mid-twentieth century, many nationalist artists from southern China sought to revitalize traditional ink painting by integrating Western realism, Eastern brushwork, and atmospheric color techniques. Featuring pivotal works from the Lingnan School in Canton, this exhibition examines how masters navigated profound cultural transformations to create a modern, internationally influential aesthetic centered on native flora, local life, and regional landscapes.
Top image: Bird and Mountain, 1991. by Li Xiongcai (Chinese, 1910 – 2001). Hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper. Asian Art Museum, Loan of Joy and Tim Light, IL2026.1.14. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
