Exhibition highlights evolution of thematic art in China
"Revolutionary Art: Special Exhibition of Thematic Art in New China" is currently on at Long Museum West Bund and will run through November 2.
Held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, this exhibition captures the historical development of thematic art in New China while celebrating its artistic achievements.
More than 150 thematic works – covering oil paintings, ink paintings, prints, sketches, sculptures, publicity posters, and New Year pictures – between the 1930s and the present are showcased, allowing visitors to trace the origins and evolution of thematic art, and feel its impact on Chinese artistic production in the mid to late 20th century.
The exhibition encompasses three sections – the Leader and the Revolution, the Yan'an Spirit and the Pulse of the Era.
The first section focuses on late Chairman Mao Zedong prior to 1949, highlighting his image and revolutionary deeds. It features artworks that portray the history of the Communist-led revolution, including depictions of the Red Army's rise to eventual victory in defending the nation.
The second section mainly features prints, beginning with works from the 1930s, with a focus on printmaking in the revolutionary base areas before and after the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art. Guided by Mao's Talks at the Yan'an forum and artistic experiments in revolutionary bases, this period laid the foundation for the direction of art in the New China. After 1949, printmaking techniques evolved toward greater refinement and diversity.
The last section showcases the defining characteristics of thematic art after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In the early years, successive political movements gave rise to waves of themed artworks that not only mirrored the movements themselves but also exemplified the role of art in serving the ideological needs of the time.
During the Reform and Opening-Up period, the changing demands of the era catalyzed a transformation in thematic painting. The evolution of subject matter and creative techniques, along with the liberation of thought and the emergence of new artistic concepts, brought greater diversity to thematic art and marked a significant historical shift in its development.
If you go:
Date: Through November 2, 2025
Opening hours: 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Thursday; 10am-9pm, Friday-Sunday
Venue: Gallery 1 & Staircase Gallery, Long Museum West Bund
Address: 3398 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui District
徐汇区龙腾大道3398号
Tickets: 140 yuan (US$19.63) (Tuesday-Thursday); 200 yuan (Friday-Sunday)