ANN ARBOR, MI - In 1978, only two years after the end of China’s Cultural Revolution, noted Magnum photographer Inge Morath and her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, were invited to travel to China. They returned again in 1979 and 1983, fueled by Morath’s knowledge of Chinese language, poetry, and history, and Miller’s interest in the politics of the present moment. On exhibition January 12 through March 23, 2008.

This exhibition captures two artists responding to a society in transition and explores a little-known chapter in a long creative partnership between Morath and Miller. Because of the University of Michigan’s strong ties to playwright Arthur Miller and its longtime strength in Chinese studies, UMMA was selected as the first venue for this exhibition.

The exhibition brings together hitherto unpublished photographs by Morath and excerpts from both her and Miller’s journals, which reflect Morath’s empathy for China's people and culture and her urgent desire to understand what Miller called “China's contradiction”: the ongoing struggle of new traditions in conflict with ancient ones. The words and images of Morath and Miller suggest a China unified by hope for a brighter future, a citizen of the modern world. It provides a moving reminder of the long struggle and fierce aspiration that underlies this ancient civilization’s “sudden” emergence as an economic superpower and thus enriches our perspective of a vitally important global neighbor.

The exhibition was curated by John P. Jacob, Director, The Inge Morath Foundation, and organized by The Inge Morath Foundation, New York.

UMMA Off/Site, 1301 South University (at South Forest), Ann Arbor Open Tue, Fri, Sat, and Sun 11 am to 6 pm; Wed and Thu, 11 am to 9 pm. *Admission is free. Information: 734.763. Visit UMMA; www.umma.umich.edu