Show a stroll in a scroll

Writer: Li Dan  |  Editor: Vincent Lin  |  From: Shenzhen Daily 

The Chinese distinction between commercial and non-commercial art exhibitions is unique in its own way. Traditionally in the West, non-commercial exhibitions show art pieces by renowned artists and are available to the public. Commercial art exhibitions, on the other hand, are held to showcase the artworks of debutant artists in order to have their works examined by art enthusiasts.

In China, however, commercial exhibitions profit from box office incomes, where fashionable young people, especially girls, pose for photos in front of the pieces that they later share on social media. Non-commercial exhibitions are often held in museums and art galleries, charging little to no entrance fees. The former is often criticized for having no substantial exhibits except fancy lighting and high-tech devices to help produce exotic photos; the latter is seldom embraced by the public for being overly professional and hard to understand.

Visitors wander in the exhibition. Photos by Debra Li.

The newly opened show curated by Zhi Zheng Culture that features “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” by Ming artist Qiu Ying (1494-1552) is somewhere in the middle.

Though regarded as one of the “Four Masters of Ming” along with Shen Zhou (1427-1509), Wen Zhengming (1470-1559) and Tang Yin (1470-1524), Qiu was not a literati but rather a painter by profession. Despite his family’s humble origins, he had natural talent and skill in painting. At an early age, he learned the art of painting from the famous Suzhou artist Zhou Chen (1450-1535). His achievements in painting consequently received the accolades of the Suzhou literati.

With his special gift for copying paintings, Qiu found favor among collectors, bringing him an opportunity to copy and learn from Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasty paintings in the collections of the Yangtze River’s southern area and greatly broadening his artistic scope. His paintings of figure, landscape and flower subjects all have an originality of his own. His painting style is not only refined and consummate, but it also has the delicately graceful air of literati art. He also had a distinctive personal style in the bold use of colors.

Visitors in the film-studio-like exhibition hall. 

The centerpiece on exhibit by Qiu was based on his impression of Song artist Zhang Zeduan’s painting of the same title. Depicting Suzhou during his lifetime, Qiu’s work measures 7.98 meters long and 395 centimeters tall, capturing the landscapes as well as some 1,300 vivid characters.

Purchased by Zhi Zheng, a local cultural firm, in 2005, this piece is confirmed to be one of the few authentic paintings by Qiu, the rest in the collections of various museums.

The 0.2-mm-thick photon screen. Photos courtesy of Zhi Zheng Culture.

To help visitors better understand the piece, Zhi Zheng has it displayed on a 23-meter-long, 2.8-meter-tall high-resolution 0.2-mm-thick photon screen, where all the figures, wheelbarrows, boats and landscapes are vividly moving, while the scroll rolls continuously too. The screen can be viewed from both the front and back sides.

Hanging on the walls surrounding the screen, there are enlarged parts of the painting with detailed information on the customs and activities depicted in them. A peddler selling snacks, a girl performing acrobatics on an elevated tightrope, a wedding procession and street artists performing crosstalk and Chinese operas — these scenarios vividly bring a Ming Dynasty city to people today.

The original "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." 

Another part of the exhibition is set up like a film studio where ancient life is re-created in photogenic scenes. Guests can also experience three VR games.

There are also paintings and calligraphy works by other Ming artists at the show, including another piece by Qiu and those by Shen, Tang, Wen and Dong Qichang (1555-1636).

Visitors need to present their ID cards to observe the Ming masters’ paintings.


Tickets: 108 yuan per person, 208 yuan for two and 298 yuan for three; 54 yuan per senior citizen (60 and above)

Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., until May 28, 2020, closed on Mondays

Venue: B1, MixC Shenzhen Bay, Nanshan District

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