Ink painting has become a hot topic in the contemporary Chinese art scene.  The reason behind, beside art market interests, is a different approach of Chinese intellectuals and artists toward their own cultural traditions. Cultural development in the last thirty years was mainly driven by concepts oft "modernisation", which mainly resulted in perceiving and copying of western global cultural and artistic trends. In recent years there is a new awareness oft the own cultural roots, but also of the problems in bringing them together with the reality of an industrialised and even post-industrialised society.

Ink painting is a concept of artistic practice deeply rooted in Chinese tradition and not existing in western art concepts.  Therefore contemporary ink painting represents a good example for the complicated situation of today’s Chinese culture between Tradition and modernity.

Sinologist Michael Kahn-Ackermann was born in Bavaria in 1946. He arrived in China in 1975 to study Chinese history, and in the 1980s translated multiple best-selling works of Chinese contemporary literature into German, including ‘Leaden Wings’ by Zhang Jie, ‘Animal Ferocity’ by Wang Shuo and ‘Dried River’ by Mo Yan. In 1979 he published ‘China - Drinnen vor der Tür’ (China – Within the Gate). As chief supervisor of ‘Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together’, a three-year project culminating at World Expo in 2010.

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ENTRANCE:  Members 50 RMB - Non Members 70 RMB

Includes a glass of wine or soft drink

Priority for RAS members. Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption.   

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RAS MONOGRAPHS - Series 1 – 4 will be available for sale at this event. 100 rmb each (cash sale only)

WEBSITE:  www.royalasiaticsociety.org.cn