ABSTRACT
In the foreground lies an array of objects associated with contemporary Chinese ink painting. Materials with quite ancient origins such as ink, brushes, and rice paper are interspersed with the latest technologies in the form of digital cameras and high-quality reproductions of paintings in books. The idea of painting and calligraphy as windows into the character of the artist lies at the core of the earliest conceptions of literati art. Lin Haizhong describes his relationship with painting and tradition as both reciprocal and personally revealing. Communication between artists across space and time is also made possible in part through the agency of the artwork, which is often clearly documented through inscriptions and seals marked on ink paintings and scroll mounts by artists, viewers, and collectors. Many viewers may not necessarily understand how a traditional style of painting is relevant to contemporary life.
