Drawn from the Chu-tsing Li collection of modern and contemporary Chinese paintings—the finest and most comprehensive of its kind in the West—A Tradition Redefined is the first in-depth exploration of the development of Chinese ink painting during the last half century. These extraordinary paintings demonstrate the reinvigoration of classical techniques and materials by artists throughout mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and abroad working with distinctly contemporary perspectives.

Illuminating essays situate these new works within the rich history of ink painting in China, revealing how contemporary artists evoke traditional and early modern Chinese art while reflecting their political and cultural environments and engaging with developments in the international art world. The book includes stunning reproductions of these paintings, many of which were previously unpublished, as well as biographies of the artists.

Robert D. Mowry is Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Chinese Art at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums. Janet Baker is curator of Asian Art at Phoenix Art Museum. Claudia Brown is professor of art history at Arizona State University and research curator for Asian art at Phoenix Art Museum. Arnold Chang is an artist and independent scholar. Chun-yi Lee (Li Junyi) is an ink painter. Melissa Moy is assistant curator of Chinese art at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums.

This catalogue was funded by the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, Joel and Lisa Alvord, Winnie and Michael Feng, Dorothy Tapper Goldman, the family of Earle Jen-Shyong Ho, James M. Kemper Jr., Marilyn J. Stokstad, Jacqueline B. and Alan L. Stuart, Martha Sutherland and Barnaby Conrad III, and Gilbert and Stephanie Zuellig.

Published in conjunction with an exhibition organized by the Harvard University Art Museums and the Phoenix Art Museum and held at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge (November 3, 2007—January 27, 2008), the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona (June 28, 2008—September 14, 2008), the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida (October 11, 2008—January 4, 2009), and the Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence (February 11, 2009—May 24, 2009).