In March 2025, Martin Joseph Powers, Emeritus Professor at the University of Michigan and Chaired Visiting Professor at Peking University, stepped into artist Liu Wanming’s Beijing studio. There, he encountered “The Charm of Ink Painting Album,” a work he described as “a dialogue between artistic traditions that transcends borders.”
Powers, a leading voice in comparative art studies, highlighted Liu’s ability to merge classical Chinese ink techniques with Western abstract expressionism. “This isn’t mere imitation,” he noted during the visit. “Liu reimagines ink painting’s fluidity through modern textures, creating a universal visual language.”
“Art like this reminds us that cultural exchanges aren’t transactions – they’re conversations.”
The China National Academy of Painting visit underscores growing academic interest in cross-cultural artistic innovation. Analysts suggest such exchanges could influence global art markets, particularly as Asian contemporary art gains prominence. For diaspora communities and cultural explorers, Liu’s work offers fresh perspectives on evolving Asian creative identities.
