The Long Museum is presenting wonderful artworks of Chinese artists

There are numerous exhibitions hosted this winter that showcase traditional Chinese artworks created by Chinese artists. However, Shanghai Long Museum is presenting a unique exhibition named “L’etranger mélancolle” which focuses on western classical art created by Chinese artists after the Revolution of 1911 in China. This is a temporary exhibition and the entrance fee is 50 RMB.

After the Revolution of 1911, Chinese artists flowed to the west and learned about western classical art, starting a period of cultural exchange between Asian and western cultures. The cultural exchange between the two continents began with artists Lin Fengmian and Wu Dayu, who created the early representative artworks for formalism and paintings that led to a new different path for Chinese artworks during that period of time. Moreover, the artistic exchange between China and the western countries flourished when artists such as San Yu, Pan Yuliang, and Yan Wenliang combined the concept of western abstract art with the classical spirit of Chinese art and created artwork with different styles, such as romanticism, impressionism, and fauvism. This exhibition includes the most of the romantic and poetic works drawn by these artists who went to the west and mixed their style with western classical art.

Throughout the exhibition, drawings created by the Chinese artists are accompanied by poems and short sentences revealing their thoughts about Chinese art. The unique aspect of this exhibition is that, despite how each artwork includes techniques that are frequently used in western classical art, all works are central to the style of Chinese art. In addition, Zao Wouki, one of the artists who created artwork that is displayed in the exhibition, claimed that “As I was deeper in thought, I gradually rediscovered China.”

There are many other exhibitions that the Long Museum is hosting this winter: the exhibition of Chinese Ruyi and Porcelain, the solo exhibition of Su Wongshen, and an exhibition that celebrates the 90th anniversary of army day in China. The address for the Long Museum is No. 210, Lane 2255, Luoshan Rd, Shanghai. For additional information, visit their website at www.thelongmuseum.org.

Featured Image – One of the artworks presented at the exhibition Courtesy of Amy Kang 

By Amy Kang