Current Exhibitions>
Since the 1950s, the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts (now Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University) has gradually developed a distinctive artistic lineage and academic community centered on decorative painting, passed down through generations of influential artists such as Zhang Ding, Pang Xunqin, Wu Guanzhong, Yuan Yunfu, Zhu Danian, Chang Shana, Qiao Shiguang, Du Dakai, and Liu Jude. This system stands alongside the academic tradition of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, represented by Xu Beihong, and the lineage of the National Academy of Art in Hangzhou led by Lin Fengmian—together forming the major artistic schools that shaped the landscape of 20th-century Chinese art history. Zhu Danian (1916–1995) was a key figure and one of the most representative artists within this tradition.Since the 1950s, the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts (now Academy of Arts & Design of Tsinghua University) has gradually developed a distinctive artistic lineage and academic community centered on decorative painting, passed down through generations of influential artists such as Zhang Ding, Pang Xunqin, Wu Guanzhong, Yuan Yunfu, Zhu Danian, Chang Shana, Qiao Shiguang, Du Dakai, and Liu Jude. This system stands alongside the academic tradition of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, represented by Xu Beihong, and the lineage of the National Academy of Art in Hangzhou led by Lin Fengmian—together forming the major artistic schools that shaped the landscape of 20th-century Chinese art history. Zhu Danian (1916–1995) was a key figure and one of the most representative artists within this tradition.
As a pioneer of modern meticulous heavy color painting, modern ceramics, and modern mural art in China, Zhu Danian was not only a founding figure of the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts but also a vital force in shaping its academic lineage. When the academy was established in 1956, he served as Head of the Department of Ceramics, overseeing teaching, creative practice, and research—laying a solid foundation for the department’s development. He later transferred to the Department of Decorative Arts, where he founded the mural art program and systematically taught courses in meticulous heavy color painting and mural paintings. Through these efforts, he established a comprehensive teaching system and made significant contributions to discipline-building and talent cultivation in Chinese art education.
This exhibition focuses on a curated selection of Zhu Danian’s works from the museum’s collection, with a special presentation of the complete preparatory manuscripts for Ode to the Forest and Song of the Soaring Kite (Kite Festival). Rather than following a conventional linear retrospective, the exhibition returns to the artworks themselves, exploring their philosophical depth and aesthetic value within a contemporary context. Centered around the concept of “audiovisual poetics of nature”, the exhibition breaks free from chronological narration to construct an immersive artistic environment. It is structured around three thematic movements, “Hymn to Nature”, “Seasons of Life”, and “Rhythms of the Human World”, which replace the traditional time-based framework. This curatorial approach aims to evoke resonance on visual, auditory, and emotional levels, guiding viewers to experience the profound connections between art, life, and nature.
