The revolution in traditional ink-wash painting is continually trying to establish a new language.

Sometimes traditional techniques illuminate modern themes. Sometimes technique is explored in depicting traditional themes. Sometimes both technique and subject matter are infused with new ideas.

Shanghai artist He Xi compares himself to the sturgeon-like fish in his work which hangs suspended above the bottom containing concealed rock formations. [Shanghai Daily]

The exhibition "New World, New Ink" underway at the Mingyuan Art Center features both ancient and modern combined in unusual ways.

It features most of the active ink-wash artists from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, such as Jin Weihong, He Xi and Chen Xinmao.

There's another ink-wash exhibition of the same title in town, says curator Xie Hai. "But I am confident that ours is a special one, you won't see the kind of things you are familiar with."

Xie selects young artists who blend the ancient Chinese art form with new media, such as installation and video.