This article was originally published on
August 1, 2011, in the Shenzhen Daily.
The information was accurate at that time, and may be outdated now. Use with caution.
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| The Guan Shanyue Art Museum |
The last time I visited the Guan Shanyue Art Museum in Lianhua Shan Park was before its refurbishing in 2007. On a visit last weekend, I was pleased to see that the "new" museum is a great improvement over the old one.
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| Bust of Mr. Guan Shanyue |
Guan Shanyue, after whom the museum is named, was a painter and educator. While teaching primary school in Guangzhou in the 1930s, Guan studied under Gao Jianfu, founder of the Lingnan School of Chinese painting. Guan was thus considered a second-generation master of the school, which was named after a historic designation for the region of Guangdong and nearby provinces.
The Lingnan School is a uniquely Chinese blend of local and foreign influences. The painters of the school were tied to some of the more exciting political events of the 20th century. For example, after several years of studying in Japan, Gao, the founder of the school, became part of Sun Zhongshan's revolutionary government. Guan himself was considered an active participant in later revolutionary art activities.
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| Guan Shanyue's desk |
The museum was originally opened in 1997. In adtion to the main gallery downstairs, the museum features two galleries dedicated to Guan's paintings, one of which displays the development of his work. [At the time of my visit] the other was tied in to the excellent current exhibition on the treasures of the Dunhuang Caves.
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Watercolor by Guan Shanyue after a 1943 visit to the Dunhuang Caves
(illustration of a Jataka story where the Buddha-to-be offers his body to a starving tigress to save her cubs) |
To reach the Museum, take Line 3 (the Longgang Line) or Line 4 (the Longhua Line) to Shaonian Gong ("Children's Palace") Station. Walk straight out of Exit B and you'll soon see the museum across Hongli Road on your left.
The museum is also mentioned in my article about
Lianhua Shan Park.
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