An exhibition in Hangzhou shines a spotlight on the remarkable life and work of Chang Shuhong, an artist who dedicated himself to preserving the historic Mogao Caves, reports Fang Aiqing.
Chang Shuhong (1904-94), the founding director of the Dunhuang Academy, left behind a promising career as a classical oil painter in France during the 1930s, drawn instead to the ancient Mogao Caves in China’s Gobi Desert. The allure of this cultural and religious treasure trove, located in Dunhuang, Gansu province, shifted the trajectory of his life.
Over the next five decades, Chang immersed himself in the preservation of the Mogao Caves, home to a vast collection of Buddhist murals and painted sculptures. His deep commitment to protecting the site, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, became his life’s work, influencing his art and cementing his role as a guardian of Chinese cultural heritage.
Zhang Yiqing, a research librarian at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in Hangzhou, Chang’s hometown, notes that the artist’s later works were heavily influenced by the murals he encountered in Dunhuang. His paintings also reflected a shift toward a more grounded, local Chinese artistic expression that was popular at the time, blending the influence of ancient Buddhist art with contemporary trends.
In honor of the 120th anniversary of Chang’s birth, the Zhejiang Provincial Museum is currently displaying a collection of his oil paintings, watercolors, and sketches. The exhibition, which runs until Sunday, provides visitors with a rare opportunity to appreciate the full scope of Chang’s artistic journey, from his early years as a classical painter to his later works, which were profoundly shaped by his time at the Mogao Caves.
Chang Shuhong’s story is one of artistic evolution and cultural preservation, with his work standing as a testament to his passion for Dunhuang and its invaluable heritage.
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