Woodblock printing has a long and distinguished history in China, where printing was invented about 1500 years ago. The exhibition shows how contemporary artists have engaged with a traditional art form to produce exciting and beautiful subject-matter.

The 108 prints selected for the exhibition are by 90 artists. Artists in their 20s contrast with an older generation, who lived through the political upheavals of 20th-century China. Each artist responds creatively to the expressive potential of the woodcut.

The exhibition is in eight sections:

• Art of the book
• Folk traditions
• Political legacy
• Urban life
• Fertile land
• Human form
• Painter’s eye
• New directions

Open daily, free of charge
7 November 2003 – 19 March 2004

The British Library Pearson Gallery
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB

How to find us
Opening hours

Closed 24-26 December 2003, 1 January 2004
Closing early at 17.00, 28-31 December 2003
Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7332

Now take a taster Tour

The British Library has mounted Chinese Printmaking Today in collaboration with the Muban Foundation (‘muban’ means ‘woodblock’). It was founded in 1997 by Christer von der Burg and the late Verena Bolinder. The Foundation works to revitalise printmaking in China and to raise the profile of woodblock artists in the West.

Muban Foundation
Unit 5, Ashburton Centre
276 Cortis Road
London SW15 3AY
Tel: +44 (0)20 8785 6434
Fax: +44 (0)20 8788 4465