Maxwell Hearn ǀ Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China

In China, the ancient notion of “ink art” stretches far beyond works brushed in ink on paper or silk to embrace of a set of aesthetic principles centered on renewal and reinterpretation of the past. This lecture examines the innovative ways in which artists have responded to, subverted, or reinterpreted traditional idioms to define a modern artistic identity that exists comfortably within the global art world while remaining indelibly Chinese.

Maxwell Hearn, the Douglas Dillon curator in charge of the department of Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will reveal the layers of meaning and cultural significance in these works and how they resonate with China’s rich and enduring cultural tradition. Referring to works created during the last three decades, he’ll touch on the four major themes: the written word, new landscapes, radical abstractions, and works that go beyond the brush.

$10; $5 MIA members, free for Asian Art Affinity Group members. To reserve tickets, call (612) 870-6323 or reserve tickets online.