This lively book explores individual and societal changes in contemporary China through the compelling personal accounts of young Chinese journalists. China's media are central to public life in the most populous nation on earth, and have also become increasingly relevant to communication and understanding on a global scale. Through a series of engaging oral histories, Judy Polumbaum puts a human face on vital political and philosophical issues of freedom of expression and information that will shape China's future. The author's extended and frank conversations with journalists from a range of news outlets reveal diversity, passion, humor, and optimism that belie the stereotype of journalists as cogs in a rigidly controlled machine. Neither dissidents nor paragons but rather people working day in and day out within China's existing and evolving media, these talented and ambitious reporters open new windows to understanding Chinese journalism and intellectual life. Some of their tales could happen only in China; others will resonate with readers everywhere. As the first book to explore experiences and ideas of everyday journalists who are helping to shape their rapidly changing country, this unique and timely work will appeal to all those interested in China's dynamic society.

"Featuring 70 works in various media--paintings, calligraphy, photographs, woodblock prints, video, and sculpture--that were created during the past three decades, Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China will demonstrate how China's ancient pattern of seeking cultural renewal through the reinterpretation of past models remains a viable creative path. Although all of the artists have transformed their sources through new modes of expression, visitors will recognize thematic, aesthetic, or technical attributes in their creations that have meaningful links to China's artistic past. The exhibition will be organized thematically into four parts and will include such highlights as Xu Bing's dramatic Book from the Sky (ca. 1988), an installation that will fill an entire gallery; Family Tree (2000), a set of vivid photographs documenting a performance by Zhang Huan in which his facial features--and his identity--are obscured gradually by physiognomic texts that are inscribed directly onto his face; and Map of China (2006) by Ai Weiwei, which is constructed entirely of wood salvaged from demolished Qing dynasty temples." --

One of 2018’s Best Mysteries by Publisher’s Weekly One of the Best Audiobooks to Listen to in October by The Washington Post “This entry solidifies her status as a top-notch historical mystery author.” – Publisher's Weekly (starred review) “Richly detailed novel of life and crime in 18th century China.” –The Wall Street Journal Following the enthralling 18th century Chinese mysteries Jade Dragon Mountain and White Mirror, comes the next Li Du adventure in City of Ink. Li Du was prepared to travel anywhere in the world except for one place: home. But to unravel the mystery that surrounds his mentor’s execution, that’s exactly where he must go. Plunged into the painful memories and teeming streets of Beijing, Li Du obtains a humble clerkship that offers anonymity and access to the records he needs. He is beginning to make progress when his search for answers buried in the past is interrupted by murder in the present. The wife of a local factory owner is found dead, along with a man who appears to have been her lover, and the most likely suspect is the husband. But what Li Du’s superiors at the North Borough Office are willing to accept as a crime of passion strikes Li Du as something more calculated. As past and present intertwine, Li Du’s investigations reveal that many of Beijing’s residents — foreign and Chinese, artisan and official, scholar and soldier — have secrets they would kill to protect. When the threats begin, Li Du must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to discover the truth in a city bent on concealing it, a city where the stroke of a brush on paper can alter the past, change the future, prolong a life, or end one.

A study of ink plum (momei) painting.

Ink arts have flourished in China for more than two millennia. Once primarily associated with elite culture, ink painting is now undergoing a popular resurgence. Ink Worlds explores the modern evolution of this art form, from scrolls and panel paintings to photographic and video forms, and documents how Chinese ink arts speak to present-day concerns while simultaneously referencing deeply historical materials, themes, and techniques. Presenting the work of some two dozen artists from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States in more than 100 full-color reproductions, the book spans pioneering abstract work from the late 1960s through twenty-first century technological innovations. Nine illustrated essays build a compelling case for understanding the modern form as a distinct genre, fusing art and science, history and technology, painting and film into an accessible theory of contemporary ink painting. The Yamazaki/Yang collection is widely recognized as one of the most important private collections of contemporary Chinese ink art. Ink Worlds is the first book to represent the collection from the perspective of contemporary art history. From its atmospheric mountainscapes to precise calligraphy, this book is a revelation, bringing together the past, present, and future of an enduring and adaptable art form.