Sculptor juxtaposes da Vinci and Qi
Print Edition
How does one depict interaction between Chinese and Western cultures? Sculptor Wu Weishan had an idea: juxtaposing Qi Baishi and Leonardo da Vinci.
One of his signature works features statues of Qi and da Vinci standing beside each other, with the Chinese painter holding an oversized cane and da Vinci鈥檚 index finger pointing at the sky.
鈥淒espite their different ways of expression, the artists both devoted their lives to seeking the truth of beauty and human emotions. It makes perfect sense they could have a conversation across time and space,鈥 Wu said.
The work, on permanent exhibition at the National Museum in Rome, offers an example of Wu鈥檚 career-long exploration of relations between Chinese and Western cultures. 鈥淕eographical and racial differences may set us apart culturally, but deep down, people around the world share the same quest for betterment, virtue, and beauty,鈥 said Wu, 56, who is also director of National Art Museum of China.
Over the past 20 years, Wu has created more than 500 sculptures of historical and cultural figures from around the world. His works have earned him numerous international awards.
鈥淚 have a single criterion for choosing the subjects of my work, they all have contributed to civilization,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e often talk about cultural confidence today, but it doesn鈥檛 mean we should cling to our past and stay complacent.
鈥淚nstead, we should embrace different cultures and try to create new artistic languages through interactions and exchanges,鈥 he said.
However, Wu has also been a long-time critic of cultural appeasement in some of China鈥檚 contemporary art scenes.
There has been an inclination among some Chinese artists who always try to please the West by uglifying the Chinese people, he said, adding 鈥渢his has led the world to misunderstand China.鈥
Wu has been striving to promote Chinese classical artworks in the world, and was granted the title of Goodwill Ambassador for China Voices by the State Council in 2016. 鈥淐hina鈥檚 traditional values and thinking, especially the spirit of poetry that celebrates romanticism, are well-received worldwide,鈥 he said.
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