Promotional materials for Wuji: Masterpieces from Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Photo: Courtesy of Tianyu
The new exhibition that was kicked off on July 23 shows a total of 62 masterpieces created by the nineteenth and twentieth century’s known art figures beside Van Gogh, also includes Picasso, Modigliani, Henri Matisse and many more.
Among the exhibits, one of the pieces that attract most attention is The Gardener by Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. One of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history, Van Gogh created about 2,100 artworks during his lifetime but his talent was only recognized after his death in 1890.
The Gardener was produced in 1889 when Van Gogh was a patient at the Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The painting is showcased in China for the first time and provides a rare chance for Chinese visitors to appreciate the authentic work of the great Dutch artist.
Besides the Gardener, another important exhibit, Portrait of Hanka Zborowska by Italian expressionist painter Amedeo Modigliani also made its debut in China.
Modigliani is known for portraits in a modern style characterized by a surreal elongation of faces, necks, and figures. The portrait displayed at the exhibition is among the first in a series of nine portraits he created of Anna (Hanka) Zborowska between 1916 and 1919.
The exhibits are provided by Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Italy, with a total value of more than one billion yuan. It is a magnificent feast for art lovers and a precious opportunity for Chinese viewers to get a closer look at European modern arts.
Educational activities are available at the exhibition. The visitors can experience the charm of abstract art by looking through special mirrors reflecting images of expressionism, futurism and cubism. Inspired and motivated by arts from so many artists, viewers can also create their own art on white T-shirts and become artists themselves.
Curator of the exhibition, Qian Qian explained that the title the Infinite Universe of Wuji signifies the disorder state of western art history in which various genres of art are thriving.
Meanwhile the philosophy behind the Chinese word Wuji means breaking boundaries and limits as well. She hopes that the exhibition will bring the viewers not only the enjoyment of art but also the courage to break boundaries and go beyond limits.
