「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」Thousand-Year-Old Murals: A Glimpse of the Splendor of the Northern Dynasties

Unlike most exhibitions of cultural relics that chronicle history in the order of dynasties, the special exhibition “Radiance of Culture and Ornament” takes “the beauty of decoration” as its core thread. Through three units – “Origin”, “Craft”, and “Art” – it traces the complete path of ancient artifacts’ transformation from functionality to pure aesthetics.

“Origin: The Dawn of Culture and Ornament” traces the transformation of decoration from practicality to spiritual symbol; “Craft: The Pinnacle of Technique” dissects the process of artisans shaping materials and refining the aesthetic appeal of objects; “Art: The Embodiment of Beauty” ultimately interprets the era’s aesthetic and cultural implications carried by patterns and colors.

The soul exhibit of the exhibition is undoubtedly the murals from the Northern Qi Dynasty’s Wanzhang Large Tomb. From the perspective of “craft”, its line drawing is vigorous and elegant, like twisted iron and coiled silk, with a touch of the ethereal charm of the Wei and Jin line drawing in the turns. The hairlines and the folds of the clothes are depicted with meticulous detail. In terms of color, it uses multiple layers of mineral pigments, mainly flat coating with local light shading, remaining vivid and eye-catching after a thousand years, fully demonstrating the ancients’ ultimate control over brushwork and materials.

From the perspective of “art”, the order of the honor guard is strict yet not rigid, with no repetition. Under the solemn ritual regulations, the subtle differences in the expressions and postures of the figures create a majestic and solemn imperial atmosphere of the Northern Qi Dynasty. This artistic style inherits the free and simple style of the Wei and Jin Dynasties and paves the way for the plump and graceful style of the Tang Dynasty, making it a key relic for studying the transition of Northern Dynasties’ painting to the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

When these murals are taken out of the dimness of the tombs and displayed under the lights of the art gallery, we can witness their transformation from technical refinement to artistic elevation. The unique grandeur of the Northern Dynasties, relying on brushstrokes, lines, and rich ancient colors, gradually reveals itself, allowing contemporary viewers to directly confront this never-fading artistic feast of the Northern Dynasties.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.