Exhibition exploring the aesthetics of the Song style “Memory of the artistic life of the Song Dynasty” opens

HANGZHOU, China, July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On 3rd of JulyThe exhibition “Elegance and Grandeur: Remembering the Artistic Life of the Song Dynasty” exploring the aesthetics of the Song style was opened at the Deshou Palace Ruins Museum of the Southern Song Dynasty. Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, ChinaThe exhibition is co-organized by the China Academy of Art (CAA), which aims to advance the study of Song style aesthetics, preserve and promote the elegant and refined cultural heritage of the Song Dynasty, and highlight its value on a global level.

Designed around the theme of “Seeking Authenticity Through Curved Worlds,” the narrative and layout of the exhibition space are designed to create a fluid, winding path for visitors. The exhibition is divided into four major themes: “Admiring Lofty Peaks,” “Walking into the World,” “Winding Mountain Trails,” and “A Magnificent View.” Through immersive scenic backdrops, key visual elements, and an introductory message against the backdrop of layered mountain ranges, it portrays the majestic beauty, joy, and revelations of the Song style aesthetic. Each section presents a unique narrative and curatorial concept, gradually leading visitors deeper into the exhibition’s rich motifs.

The exhibition is divided into eight sub-themed areas arranged in a hall, gallery, courtyard and cave-like environment, showcasing the multifaceted charm of Song style aesthetics. The themes include paintings, calligraphy, furniture and architecture of the Song Dynasty, providing a comprehensive overview of the artistic expressions of this era. The painting area illustrates the artists’ ethos of “examining things for self-knowledge” and presents richly detailed landscapes, flora and fauna, and bustling city scenes. The calligraphy area displays works that emphasize “connotation” at their core, where master calligraphers display diverse artistic charm and styles and showcase the diverse aesthetics of calligraphy. The furniture theme shows how Song furniture, although it inherited traditional elements, inspired new life patterns and aesthetic trends. The celadon theme highlights the exquisite craftsmanship and cultural significance of Song celadon. The architecture theme uses remnants of Song structures to recreate the interplay between landscape and architecture. The garden theme follows the development of the management of Hangzhou’s West Lake to the poetic garden designs that reflect the natural beauty and cultural intelligence of the Southern Song Dynasty gardens. The pattern theme showcases the minimalist but deeply emotional designs typical of the Song Dynasty, rooted in everyday life, and provoking reflection on the aesthetic dialectic between nature and human culture. The clothing theme examines Song clothing through the lens of contemporary aesthetics and presents an innovative reinterpretation of the aesthetic principles of the Song style in modern fashion design. In addition, the exhibition features four scenic animated play settings in the courtyard, which blend in with and reflect the interior themes, further enriching the presentation and comprehensive experience of the Song style aesthetics.

Throughout the exhibition, experts and scholars from various disciplines will engage with the public through forums, lectures and elegant gatherings around Song culture. Through a series of carefully planned events, the exhibition unfolds the rich layers of cultural meanings of the Song style and aims to promote deep interactions and exchanges with a wide range of audiences at home and abroad.

The exhibition runs until 3 August 2024.

SOURCE China Academy of Art