Chongqing - On March 15, the "Atlas: Harmony In Diversity—The 60th Venice International Art Biennale, China Pavilion, Touring Exhibition (Chongqing)" opened at the Art Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Southwest China's Chongqing.
On March 15, the "Atlas: Harmony In Diversity—The 60th Venice International Art Biennale, China Pavilion, Touring Exhibition (Chongqing)" opened at the Art Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Southwest China's Chongqing. (Photo/Sichuan Fine Arts Institute)
Hosted by the China Artists Association, the exhibition brings an extraordinary artistic dialogue across time and space to the people of Chongqing, offering a rare opportunity to experience the allure of one of the world's most prestigious art exhibitions right at their doorstep.
This marks the first time a global top-tier art exhibition has been brought to Western China. It will showcase the unique charm of Chinese cultural heritage and innovation through digital technology and contemporary art.
As the inaugural stop of the touring exhibition, the Chongqing leg holds significant importance. He Guiyan, director of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Art Museum, said that the exhibition not only reflects the remarkable achievements of the Chinese art world but also narrates Chinese stories and conveys Chinese voices through the lens of contemporary art.
Curated by Wang Xiaosong and Jiang Jun, the exhibition is themed "Atlas: Harmony In Diversity" and is divided into two sections: "Collection" and "Biography."
The "Collection" section features digital reproductions of 12,405 ancient Chinese paintings scattered overseas, allowing them to "return home" virtually. Visitors can marvel at high-definition images of rare masterpieces such as Han Gan's "Night-Shining White" from the Tang Dynasty and Guo Xi's "Old Trees, Level Distance" from the Song Dynasty.
An interactive bilingual system also enables viewers to explore research findings from international institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offering a global perspective on Chinese art.
The "Collection" section features digital reproductions of 12,405 ancient Chinese paintings scattered overseas, allowing them to "return home" virtually. (Photo/Sichuan Fine Arts Institute)
"We are not replicating tradition but seeking new life through deconstruction," said curator Wang.
In the "Biography" section, seven renowned contemporary artists, including Che Jianquan and Jiao Xingtao, draw inspiration from the "Chinese Painting Series of Successive Dynasties" to create groundbreaking works that reinterpret traditional narratives.
For instance, Che Jianquan's "Pavilion" series uses 20 years of time-lapse photography to capture the seasonal changes of an ancient pavilion in Lushan Mountain, transforming the Taoist concept of "harmony between man and nature" into a meditation on ecological crises.
Meanwhile, Jiao Xingtao's "Soul and Rhyme" sculpture installation reimagines traditional Chinese figures using industrial materials like copper and iron, blending rusted textures with smooth lines to explore the modernization of traditional culture.
Jiao Xingtao's "Soul and Rhyme" sculpture installation. (Photo/Sichuan Fine Arts Institute)
"As an artist, I have always been intrigued by the inheritance and innovative development of traditional culture," said Curator Jiang. "This exhibition challenges us to consider the relationship between Chinese and global cultures, presenting a fascinating dialogue."
Through the dual narrative of "digital archives + contemporary creation," the exhibition highlights Chinese civilization's contributions to world art and underscores the cultural consciousness of Chinese artists in a globalized era.
The exhibition will be free until April 10, offering a unique opportunity to witness the dynamic interplay between classical and contemporary art.
(Wang Shuyun, as an intern, also contributed to the report)