Oil painting exhibition delves into art restoration

An oil painting exhibition at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAUP) offers visitors a rare chance to delve into the behind-the-scenes stories of painting restoration, where they can admire the works of five Chinese masters.

The “Dreamscapes Restored: Art & Technology Intertwined — The Journey to the Rebirth of Artworks” exhibition showcases 29 paintings by Xu Beihong, Liu Haisu, Lin Fengmian, Dai Ze and Zhu Naizheng.

Among the exhibits are study copies of renowned Western oil paintings, such as Xu’s “Woman by the Window” (1922), a replica of a painting by Rembrandt, Zhu’s “The Village at the Seaside” (1978) emulating Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot’s artwork, and Dai’s “The Sigismund Bell” modeled after a portion of Jan Matejko’s painting.

Experts share insights at a forum on artwork restoration, a side event of the exhibition, at MOCAUP on Wednesday. Photos courtesy of the organizer

A staffer introduces Xu Beihong’s “Woman by the Window” to visitors at the exhibition.

These masters, celebrated as modern Chinese painting pioneers, created the works between the 1920s and 1980s, reflecting Western artistic influence on them and the exchanges between Chinese and global art scenes. Over the years, the works have started to show signs of wear and tear, and the displayed works are all meticulously restored, revealing their brilliance once more to the public.

The exhibition also provides an insight into the processes of painting restoration, which combine cutting-edge technologies with exquisite craftsmanship. It also displays the tools used and features an overview of the artwork conservation and restoration history in China and the West, granting visitors a view on this unique aspect of art history.

A staffer introduces Liu Haisu’s “Boat on Taihu Lake” to a visitor.

Visitors observe tools used in artwork restoration.

During a forum held at MOCAUP on Wednesday, Jia Peng, overseeing artwork restoration and material research at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (GAFA) and serving as the curator of the exhibition, highlighted that restoration involves not only repairing but also conducting research on the artworks.

Fan Bo, head of the GAFA, emphasized the urgency and importance of protecting and restoring masterpieces. He commended the dedicated efforts of institutions like the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and GAFA in advancing artwork conservation and restoration in China and steering it towards a promising future.

Xu Yan, director of the oil painting restoration studio at CAFA Art Museum, and Shen Yijia, a relic protection researcher at the Shanghai Museum, agreed that through restoration-themed exhibitions and opportunities for visitors to witness the process, a profound connection is established between the artworks and visitors, who will gain insight into the untold stories behind art collections.

A staffer introduces artwork restoration to visitors.

A girl takes interest in a leopard sculpture inspired by Dai Ze’s painting “Lucky Leopard.”

Dates: Through Nov. 17

Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tickets: 25-35 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning, Futian District (深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit A2