Villa celebrates the passion of left-wing writers 90 years on
Print Edition
Passionate Chinese authors founded the League of Left-Wing Writers (Zuolian) in Shanghai nine decades ago to fight against Kuomintang repression at home amid a worsening international situation.
Led by Lu Xun, the forefather of modern Chinese literature, the Zuolian based in Hongkou District created a score of influential literary works which still inspire people today.
A major renovation was completed yesterday marking the 90th anniversary of Zuolian鈥檚 founding in the historic villa where the league was established.
The three-story memorial site on Duolun Road, a British Neoclassic-style garden villa, was built in 1924 and converted into an exhibition site in December 2001.
Due to the novel coronavirus epidemic, the site remains closed to the public. But visitors can take a virtual tour of the building and new exhibitions about the league through its official WeChat account (duolunlu201) 鈥 only in Chinese at the moment.
The renovation repaired leaks, eliminated termites and fixed many broken parts to restore the building鈥檚 original appearance. The interior and original decor, such as the ceiling, fireplaces, iron window frames and colorful floor tiles, have been restored.
The exhibition space, featuring historical photos, original publications, artifacts and furniture once belonging to China鈥檚 most famous modern writers, has been expanded to 350 square meters from 100 square meters.
鈥淭he new exhibition introduces the full history of the league and China鈥檚 left-wing revolutionary literary activities,鈥 said He Ying, curator of the memorial.
鈥淚t aims to showcase the contributions of the league to Chinese literature and culture as well as for the nation鈥檚 liberation, independence and people鈥檚 happy lives,鈥 she added.
Many new exhibits were donated by the descendants of left-wing writers and citizens over the past two decades, He said.
The third floor of the building has been opened for the first time, along with a visitor鈥檚 center, a souvenir shop and a reception room.
On March 2, 1930, Lu gave an opening address at the memorial site, then a dormitory building of the former China Art University, to ask the league to create literature and art to primarily serve peasants, workers and other commoners.
The main hall where Lu made the speech has been restored as the first exhibition of the memorial. The ceiling and floors have been preserved, while the scene of the founding meeting was restored according to archives.
Ninety years ago, about 50 people attended the opening meeting which ran from 2pm to 7pm, marking the launch of the first literary organization directly led by the Communist Party of China.
The members included many renowned writers like Lu (1881-1936), Mao Dun (1896-1981), Xia Yan (1900-1995) and Tian Han (1898-1968), who wrote the lyrics of China鈥檚 national anthem.
Some of their belongings are exhibited for the first time.
They include a wooden desk of Mao Dun, where he wrote articles for multiple Chinese newspapers, a spirit stove from Party leader Qu Qiubai (1899-1935), the sofa, bamboo chair and tea table of writer Ding Ling (1904-1986) as well as the wardrobe and hatstand of Xia Yan.
Letters and belongings of five martyrs of the league who were persecuted by the Kuomintang government in February 1931 are highlighted among the exhibits. They also include a vest worn by Feng Keng (1907-1931) when she was executed at the age of 24.
A statue of the martyrs now stands in a courtyard outside the conference room where the Zuolian was born.
Apart from writing books and essays, the left-wing writers also translated many foreign writers鈥 works, including 鈥淢other鈥 by Maxim Gorky and 鈥淎ll Quiet on the Western Front鈥 by Erich Maria Remarque.
Copies of these publications can be seen on the third floor. A total of 269 books by left-wing writers are exhibited on two walls on the top floor.
Wang Xirong, who arranged the exhibition, said: 鈥淭his is the first time that all the achievements of the league, including literature, art, drama, film and music, have been exhibited together.鈥
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