Paris collection draws evolution of ink painting

Art lovers in China may not be aware of this, but a museum in Paris houses an important collection of Asian and Chinese art. The ongoing exhibition The Journey of Ink: Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings From the Musee Cernuschi showing at the Bund One Art Museum in Shanghai marks the first time a selection of masterpieces from the Paris museum is on display in China.

Running until Jan 5, the exhibition features 89 paintings from the collection of the Musee Cernuschi, including works by familiar masters such as Zhang Daqian, Lin Fengmian, Qi Baishi and Sanyu.

The Musee Cernuschi's collection of modern and contemporary Chinese art has been displayed for more than 70 years, says Eric Lefebvre, director and general curator of the French museum. This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France, "so we think it is a great opportunity to share the ink paintings with audiences in Shanghai", he told media at the opening ceremony.

"We have selected artworks spanning almost a century to showcase how Chinese ink art innovated and developed throughout this period."

The exhibition ranges from paintings made at the beginning of the 20th century to the creations of living artists in the final chapter.

"We search for a link with the past in the paintings," says Mael Bellec, head of the Chinese and Korean collections at the Musee Cernuschi.

In the curatorial process, Lefebvre and Bellec discovered a narrative thread connecting the works and chose ink painting as the main theme. "Because ink is native to Chinese characteristics, viewing it conjures the feeling of its history," Bellec says.

Many Chinese artists stayed in Paris and "while they were there, they did new things with what they learned … When two cultures meet, there is a blending that happens almost immediately and brings forth new ideas", Bellec tells China Daily.