Contemporary art in China - China Underground

Contemporary art in China: essays, the best Chinese artists, interviews, curricula, best works.

Welcome to the captivating world of “Art in China,” where creativity and cultural heritage come together in a mesmerizing display. Embark on a fascinating journey through time, uncovering the vibrant colors that paint China’s artistic landscape. Immerse yourself in the intricate brushstrokes of traditional masterpieces, where ancient traditions breathe life into every stroke. Be amazed by the innovative visions of contemporary Chinese artists, as they challenge conventions and redefine artistic boundaries. Here, tradition and innovation intertwine, creating a harmonious blend that evokes wonder. Discover the captivating stories, hidden narratives, and unique techniques that make Chinese art a true testament to human imagination. Get ready to be inspired as you explore this enchanting world, where art finds its voice amidst the rich cultural tapestry of China.

All you need to know about emerging Chinese artists, modern Chinese art facts, famous Chinese painters, and Chinese art painting.

Thousand Buddha Grottoes

The Thousand Buddha Grottoes (千佛洞) form a system of 492 temples 25 km southeast of Dunhuang.

The Mogao Caves along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes are the three famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China. Situated at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural, and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River, the Mogao Caves south-east of the Dunhuang oasis, Gansu Province, comprise the largest, most richly endowed, and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art in the world.

Dunhuang grottoes Author: Leon petrosyan — Dunhuang grottoes
Author: Leon petrosyan

It was first constructed in 366AD and represents the great achievement of Buddhist art from the 4th to the 14th century. 492 caves are presently preserved, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures. Cave 302 of the Sui dynasty contains one of the oldest and most vivid scenes of cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, depicting a camel pulling a cart typical of trade missions of that period.

Caves 23 and 156 of the Tang dynasty show workers in the fields and a line of warriors respectively and in the Song dynasty Cave 61, the celebrated landscape of Mount Wutai is an early example of artistic Chinese cartography, where nothing has been left out – mountains, rivers, cities, temples, roads, and caravans are all depicted.

Exterior of the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, China, including chambers used by monks for living and meditation. Author: Flickr user: eviltomthai — Exterior of the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, China, including chambers used by monks for living and meditation.
Author: Flickr user: eviltomthai

As evidence of the evolution of Buddhist art in the northwest region of China, the Mogao Caves are of unmatched historical value. These works provide an abundance of vivid materials depicting various aspects of medieval politics, economics, culture, arts, religion, ethnic relations, and daily dress in western China.

The unique artistic style of Dunhuang art is not only the amalgamation of Han Chinese artistic tradition and styles assimilated from ancient Indian and Gandharan customs but also an integration of the arts of the Turks, ancient Tibetans, and other Chinese ethnic minorities. Many of these masterpieces are creations of unparalleled aesthetic talent.

The discovery of the Library Cave at the Mogao Caves in 1990, together with the tens of thousands of manuscripts and relics it contained, has been acclaimed as the world’s greatest discovery of ancient Oriental culture. This significant heritage provides an invaluable reference for studying the complex history of ancient China and Central Asia.

Cave nr 275 Author: Bairuilong — Cave nr 275
Author: Bairuilong

Integrity

Mogao Caves encompass caves, wall paintings, painted sculptures, ancient architecture, movable cultural relics, and their settings. The property area and buffer zone contain all the attributes that demonstrating the values of the Mogao Caves and thus ensure the integrity of both the heritage site and its environment.

Documents of Western Xia, Central Asian and Phags-pa scripts had been discovered through archaeological investigations in the 243 caves in the northern area of Mogao Caves, which was the area for monks to live and meditate and also served as the graveyard in the past. The Mogao Caves comprise the Northern Area and Southern Area caves together.

Mogao Caves Sanctuary Images

Cave nr 16 Author: Bairuilong — Cave nr 16
Author: Bairuilong

Cave nr 148 Author: Bairuilong — Cave nr 148
Author: Bairuilong

Detail of mural commemorating victory of General Zhang Yichao over the Tibetans. Dunhuang Mogao cave 156, Late Tang Dynasty. Dunhuang Mogao Caves, scanned from Cave Temples of Dunhuang: Art and History on the Silk Road.

Detail of a portrait of a Khotan King, from Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Five Dynasties (907 - 979 A.D) — Detail of a portrait of a Khotan King, from Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Five Dynasties (907 – 979 A.D)

Dunhuang Mogao Cave 285, a flying apsarasa, Western Wei Dynasty

Section of mural depicting victory of general Zhang Yichao who expelled the Tibetan from Dunhuang. Cave 156, Late Tang Dynasty.

This is cave mural of Avolokitesevara, Worshipping Bodhisattvas and Mendicant. Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)

Cave 285. This is cave mural of Worshiping Bodhisattva. Wei Dynasty (535-556 A.D.).

Vimalakirti in debate with the bodhisattva Manjusri, detail from a wall painting in Cave 103 of Dunhuang, Gansu province, China, dated to the Tang Dynasty, 8th century.

Chinese mural of a bodhisattva from Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, showing strong Central Asian influence, as well as the characteristics of Central Asian Mahayana Buddhism during this time.

Dunhuang-figures-showing-shading-technique — Murals details from Dunhuang showing shading techique. Figure on left from cave 275 from the Northern Liang period (397–460), figure on right from cave 428 from the Northern Zhou dynasty (557 – 581).

Paradise of Bhaishajyaguru, color on silk, 206 x 167 cm. The image was discovered at the Mogao Caves near Dun Huang in the "1000 Buddha cave". Bhaishajyaguru (Buddha of Healing) is seated in the center of the image. Bodhisattvas are dancing and playing music in front of him. Located at the British Museum — Paradise of Bhaishajyaguru, color on silk, 206 x 167 cm. The image was discovered at the Mogao Caves near Dun Huang in the “1000 Buddha cave”. Bhaishajyaguru (Buddha of Healing) is seated in the center of the image. Bodhisattvas are dancing and playing music in front of him. Located at the British Museum

Xuanzang returned from India. Dunhuang mural, Cave 103. High Tang period (712-765).

Bodhisattva Leading the Way, color on silk, 80.5 x 53.8 cm. The image was discovered at Dun Huang in the "1000 Buddha cave" (cave 17). The bodhisattva is leading a woman to the Pure Land on the golden cloud in the upper left corner. His right hand contains an incense burner. His left hand contains a lotus flower. Located at the British Museum Department of Asia. — Bodhisattva Leading the Way, color on silk, 80.5 x 53.8 cm. The image was discovered at Dun Huang in the “1000 Buddha cave” (cave 17). The bodhisattva is leading a woman to the Pure Land on the golden cloud in the upper left corner. His right hand contains an incense burner. His left hand contains a lotus flower. Located at the British Museum Department of Asia.

Cave 7, Western Thousand Buddha Caves, Gansu, China (Northern Wei)

Devas. Dunhuang mural. Cave 272, Northern Liang dynasty.

Source: UNESCO TV / © NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai URL: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/440/
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

topics: unesco site in China,buddhist caves

A Psychedelic Jam Session in the making

Back in 2001, a group of musicians – Matteo Damiani, Daisuke Tanaka, Massimiliano Carponi, and Xiao Ou (AK47) – who shared a love for psychedelic music, got together in a small studio in Beijing. They decided to have an impromptu jam session, which was recorded by Dominique Musorrafiti, an experimental videographer. At the time, the band didn’t have a name, but their music spoke for itself. They recorded two songs during that session – “Beijing 01” and “Chico de la noche”. The accompanying video for “Beijing 01” was shot during a significant time in Beijing’s history, as the city was undergoing significant social, economic and cultural changes. The recording studio where they jammed was located in an area that was due to be demolished as part of the redevelopment that was happening in the city.