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Famous '100 Doves' a gift of art diplomacy from China to US
By Shao Lingwei |
June 11, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A spectacular peace diplomacy painting of 100 doves of peace was presented by China to the White House in late 1940 for the election campaign to a third term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Today "Messengers of World Peace" (134.6cm by 272.4cm) is the highlight of an exhibition of works by famed painter Zhang Shuqi (1899-1956) and on loan from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. It is painted in gouache, ink and wet colors on silk and mounted on paper.
The monumental work, often called "100 Doves" is one of 120 works by Zhang on display at the Zhejiang Museum of Art through June 24.
The US election, which Roosevelt won, was fought in the shadow of World War II in Europe, and the painting is an early example of art diplomacy.
Zhang, famous for his birds and flowers, lived in the United States from 1941 to 1946, teaching at universities and holding major exhibitions. He was famous for combining Eastern themes with Western techniques and concepts.
His work had a major impact on America's view of Chinese brush painting. He returned to China after 1946 but ultimately settled in the US.
During the first half of 20th century Chinese art went through a period of transformation and started to integrate East and West. Zhang was a major representative.
The Zhejiang Province native studied in Shanghai under master Liu Haisu (1896-1994) who combined European and Chinese techniques.
"For most Americans, Zhang's works appeared to be of a traditional Chinese idiom, but his training, technique and approach to art was fully modern in China. It combined Western and Chinese features, and he thought of himself as both an international and Chinese artist," writes Gordon H. Chang, the son of the artist, in the essay "Chinese Painting Comes to America: Zhang Shuqi and the Diplomacy of Art."
Once asked why war was not a subject of his works, Zhang replied, "War is not beautiful, and it will not last long. The Chinese nation is peace-loving and thus Chinese artists focus on depicting nature, flowers, birds, animals and landscapes. Birds and flowers are beautiful. If people think more about these beautiful things, they can beat the war."
Date: Through June 24, 9am-4:30pm (closed on Mondays)
Address: 138 Nanshan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8707-8700
Today "Messengers of World Peace" (134.6cm by 272.4cm) is the highlight of an exhibition of works by famed painter Zhang Shuqi (1899-1956) and on loan from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. It is painted in gouache, ink and wet colors on silk and mounted on paper.
The monumental work, often called "100 Doves" is one of 120 works by Zhang on display at the Zhejiang Museum of Art through June 24.
The US election, which Roosevelt won, was fought in the shadow of World War II in Europe, and the painting is an early example of art diplomacy.
Zhang, famous for his birds and flowers, lived in the United States from 1941 to 1946, teaching at universities and holding major exhibitions. He was famous for combining Eastern themes with Western techniques and concepts.
His work had a major impact on America's view of Chinese brush painting. He returned to China after 1946 but ultimately settled in the US.
During the first half of 20th century Chinese art went through a period of transformation and started to integrate East and West. Zhang was a major representative.
The Zhejiang Province native studied in Shanghai under master Liu Haisu (1896-1994) who combined European and Chinese techniques.
"For most Americans, Zhang's works appeared to be of a traditional Chinese idiom, but his training, technique and approach to art was fully modern in China. It combined Western and Chinese features, and he thought of himself as both an international and Chinese artist," writes Gordon H. Chang, the son of the artist, in the essay "Chinese Painting Comes to America: Zhang Shuqi and the Diplomacy of Art."
Once asked why war was not a subject of his works, Zhang replied, "War is not beautiful, and it will not last long. The Chinese nation is peace-loving and thus Chinese artists focus on depicting nature, flowers, birds, animals and landscapes. Birds and flowers are beautiful. If people think more about these beautiful things, they can beat the war."
Date: Through June 24, 9am-4:30pm (closed on Mondays)
Address: 138 Nanshan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8707-8700
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