By Xiao Wu, video by Xingchen Yue, iChongqing
Chongqing - As one of the most awaited art feasts in Chongqing around the year, Mona Lisa’s Smile & Renaissance-The Collections of Bellini Family exhibition will soon debut in Chongqing Art Museum. The 100-day display of more than 170 original artworks of the Renaissance is a huge gift from Florence to Chongqing people.
On April 24, the curator and the 21st heir of Bellini family, Mr. Luigi Bellini took an exclusive interview with iChongqing to talk about his philosophy on art and the exhibition.
Mr. Bellini took an exclusive interview with iChongqing.
Mr. Bellini greeted us with a warm smile at the doorway of the cafe of JW Marriott in Chongqing. After small talks about his time in Chongqing, he told us that during the two days he enjoyed Chongqing hotpot very much. “It’s spicy, but I love it.” Said Mr. Bellini.
For over 600 years, Bellini Family has made great efforts to collect classic artworks both home and abroad, which makes its European collections the number one in the world. “My family is dedicated to art culture for the past 21 generations. Each one of us buys and collects. People passed away, but the collections stay. We have more than 10 thousand paintings.” Said Mr. Bellini.
In the upcoming exhibition, the painting Mona Lisa’s smile has attracted wide attention. Although it’s not the same one in Louvre, it is a fantastic artwork that drew with similar excellence at the same time as Leonardo Da Vinci. “ Mona Lisa is an important painting and there is always a secret in Mona Lisa that does not exist in other female portraits.” Mr. Bellini said. “But there are more artists at the same time with the same influence as or stronger of it than Da Vinci.” Mr. Bellini suggested that visitors to the exhibition should not only focus on the one and missed all others whose works are also great. “ Chilandio, Michelangelo, Raffaello... it is these stars together, who came to school in Florance, the small center, to talk and create, that is a miracle.” He said touchingly.
“My favorite artists in the exhibition are Ghirlandaio and Raffaello. There are also plenty of others I like.” Said Mr. Bellini. He shared his philosophy about the topic of who is the most important art figure. “It’s very important that what you like to see. It’s impossible to say who is more important than another. In a different period, you will have different influential figures. Many ideas and development involved in paintings, which leads to their difference. This is a miracle.”
At the question about what he hopes the audience can get from the exhibition, Mr. Bellini’s answer is simple but profound. “Emotion. If it’s possible to see the emotion in people after they visit a normal long work my family makes and see something they did not know before, it’s the best thing I can have."
It is Mr. Bellini's first time to Chongqing. He described the city as "It is very interesting that Chongqing has different levels (wavy terrain). It is fantastic that the architect can make construction under such a geographic condition. It’s unique." He believes this is a city that inspires artists. Holding the idea that "The city is too big not to understand art" and "More modern time goes up, more people like to know(art), he thinks people in Chongqing are intelligent enough to understand and create art.
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