A century of Chinese art in Milan from qocsuing's blog

A century of Chinese art in Milan

A bronze statue of Confucius (circa 551-479 BC) appears at the very beginning of the ongoing Cina: La Nuova Frontiera dell'Arte (China: The New Frontier of Art) exhibition in Milan. One wonders if the figure of this paragon of ancient Chinese wisdom, standing at the door, is meant to serve as a symbolic guide, a keeper of the clues needed to unravel the complexities of a significant period in Chinese cultural history. The exhibits cover more than 100 years, from 1908, the year China's last emperor, Puyi, was crowned, to the present day. To get more news about empress wanrong, you can visit shine news official website.

Around 250 works of art and objects are displayed on two floors of the Fabbrica del Vapore, an art gallery in Milan's Chinatown. They include oil paintings, photographs, calligraphy, ink and brush works, sculptures and historical materials.

Curator Vincenzo Sanfo, an expert on contemporary Chinese art, explains that the exhibition is an attempt to provide Western audiences with the tools to understand the rich variety of artistic expression in contemporary China. For much of the 20th century, it was common for Chinese artists to follow the lead of Western greats - the favourites being Warhol, Pollock, Picasso and Dalí. However, as Sanfo points out, their contemporary counterparts are increasingly looking to their own country's artistic heritage for inspiration.

There is a section dedicated to artists who, according to the curator, deserve greater international attention. Many of the works in this section display brilliant colour, wit and playfulness. These include large-scale pop art works by Jinan-born Xu Deqi (b. 1964), in which women wearing heavy make-up and oversized glasses appear against a backdrop of ancient, blue-porcelain-style landscapes. Images from his Beauty and the Beast series show women walking down the street with a big cat, such as a leopard or Bengal tiger, on a leash.

The figurative artist Xin Haizhou (b. 1966) is also represented. His acrylic canvases are populated by imposing figures who look back at the viewer with large, searching eyes.

Luo Zhiyi (b. 1967) is an artist who moves between abstraction and realism. Remnants of exploded fireworks are scattered across white canvases in a manner reminiscent of torn flowers. Images of firework debris evoke a sense of tranquillity, the canvas becoming a meditative space in the aftermath of celebration.

Zhang Hongmei (b. 1973) uses fabric and acrylic on canvas to make a powerful statement with her City Speed series. In a style reminiscent of the French multidisciplinary artist Sonia Delaunay, Zhang's work lies at the confluence of painting, fashion and textile design, sculpture and video art.
Among the historically significant objects in the exhibition are rare photographs of Chinese royalty from the 1900s. These provide an insight into the private and public lives of the Qing Empress Dowager Cixi, the last Chinese Emperor Puyi and his wife Empress Wanrong. There are also examples of traditional qipao and colourful posters from the 'Cultural Revolution' (1966-76).

The exhibition also includes sections on calligraphy and ink painting. Many of these works celebrate nature. For me, a luminous flower inked by Zeng Xiang (b. 1958) stood out for its spare and contemplative beauty.