Chinese Painting: Creatures in the World of Ink
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Squirrels (detail), By Song Tian, Yuan dynasty, 14th century
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
April 17, 2018 (Tue) - May 20, 2018 (Sun)With India ink (also known as sumi ink), one is capable of expressing unlimited gradations of shade by changing the amount of water blended. Various combinations of dry and moist brushwork are also possible. From ancient times, Chinese painters have taken advantage of this trait for portraying various creatures living on land, in the sea, and in the sky. This exhibition introduces the development of ink paintings depicting creatures, from the Southern Song to the Qing dynasty.
Current exhibit includes:
Squirrels, By Song Tian, Yuan dynasty, 14th century
Cockerel and Bamboo, By Luo Chuang, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)
Monkeys, Attributed to Mu Qi, Southern Song to Yuan dynasty, 13th–14th century (Private collection)
Dragon, By Li Ye, Ming dynasty, 15th–16th century (Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokyo)
Cormorants and Reeds, By Lin Liang, Ming dynasty, 16th century