"Cultural Inheritance", an exhibition jointly mounted by the Shixiang Art Space and Poly Academy of Arts in Beijing, addresses changes in Chinese art history. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The 20th century witnessed a dramatic evolution of Chinese modernism and Chinese painting, which fostered the continuation and revival of Chinese cultural traditions in a modern context. A generation of artists, either working in the classic style of Chinese ink painting or adopting brushwork oil painting introduced from the West, dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the reform of Chinese art under the influence of a mix of Eastern and Western cultures.

"Cultural Inheritance", an exhibition jointly mounted by the Shixiang Art Space and Poly Academy of Arts in Beijing, addresses this important change in the Chinese art history by showing more than 50 paintings by 21 prominent figures, such as Zhao Zhiqian, Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi, among many others.

"Cultural Inheritance", an exhibition jointly mounted by the Shixiang Art Space and Poly Academy of Arts in Beijing, addresses changes in Chinese art history. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The exhibition, which closes today at Shixiang Art Space, displays a selection of works from classic Chinese painting and calligraphy to be sold at auction during Poly Auction's autumn sale next week in Beijing.

Exhibition curator Li Dajun said the exhibition is thought-provoking and renews people's understanding of 20th-century Chinese art. It encourages collectors to engage in discussion on this group of artists, their work and how to better preserve the cultural spirit embodied in their work through collection.

Jiang Yingchun, general manager of Poly Culture Group Corporation Limited, said the exhibition also demonstrates an increasing endeavor of the newly-established Poly Academy of Arts to promote academic research, publication and exhibition in years to come, by which they hope to link artists, scholars, collectors and the public.