Modern Chinese painting embodies the constant renewal and reinvigorations of Chinese
civilization amidst rebellions reforms and revolutions even if the process may appear
confusing and bewildering. It also demonstrates the persistence of tradition and limits of
continuities and changes in modern Chinese cluture. Most significantly it compels us to ask
several important questions in the study of modern Chinese culture: How extensively can
cultural tradition be re-interpreted before it is subverted? At what point is creative
re-invention an act of betrayal of tradition? How has selective borrowing from Chinese
tradition and foreign cultrue enabled modern Chinese artists to sustain themselves in the
modern world? By focusing on the art of Huang Pin-hung (1865-1955) particularly his late work
this book attempts to provide some answers to these questions.
