A lacquer painting presenting the Beijing Central Axis will be put on exhibit at the Zhengyangmen Gate
To better promote and preserve the cultural heritage of Beijing Central Axis, our foundation in collaboration with the Fujian Zhengjia Charity Foundation created a lacquer painting which is 7.8-meter high and 5.6-meter wide. The lacquer painting is an art work of the well-known intangible cultural heritage brand “Shen Shao’an Lacquer Art” owned by Zhengjia Charity. It presents the Beijing Central Axis with the use of the “Great Lacquer Art” which has a long history in China. This painting will be put on exhibit at the Zhengyangmen Gate.
On the afternoon of May 26th, the Office for Beijing Central Axis Application for the List of World Heritage and Protection organized a sample seminar on the lacquer painting entitled “Eternal Axis”. The seminar was chaired by Chen Mingjie, Secretary of the Leading Party Group and Director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Breau, and attend by Mei Song, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Foundation. The experts invited for consultation at the seminar include Professor Bai Xiaogang, Director of the Basic Department of the Styling Subject at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Professor Zhang Fan, Vice Dean of the School of Design and Arts at Beijing Institute of Technology, Song Yinwei, Secretary General of Beijing Arts and Crafts Industry Association, Senior Artist of Arts and Crafts, as well as Professor Wu Fei, Vice Dean of College of Art and Design under Beijing University of Technology, who is also a famous lacquer painter.
Zhan Azhi, who is in charge of the Shen Shao’an Lacquer Art Integration Base, Huang Baoxian, the consultant of the Shen Shao’an Lacquer Art Industry Integration Base in Fujian Province, and Jiang Haiming, the artist in partnership with the Shen Shao’an Lacquer Art in Fujian Province, respectively made their introduction of the differences in color and craftsmanship of three lacquer painting samples.
The experts present at the seminar unanimously agreed that the color of the second sample can better interpret “Eternal Axis” with the lacquer painting and also gave their advices for improving. Bai Ming, the designer of “Eternal Axis”, a professor and doctoral supervisor at Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Director of the Ceramic Art Committee of the China Artists Association, proposed a modification request based on experts’ opinions. The brilliant effect of the middle extension should be optimized on the basis of the third sample, and the gold plating should be changed to the gilding, ultimately presenting a magnificent, more impactful and powerful effect. Subsequent optimization work should ensure a more uniform and shine color, reflecting the texture and spirituality of the paint itself. The star chart should maintain its own sense of mystery, and the parts connecting the stars should have a black background and be stacked with powder of shells to create a three-dimensional effect. The copper strip used in the middle for linking and reinforcing should be polished to increase brightness, and combined with lighting to assist in luminescence.
Lin Zhengjia, Chairman of Fujian Zhengjia Charity Foundation and Director of Jiaxin Haitan Holding Group, stated that he will lead the team to improve the artwork based on the opinions of this seminar, presenting a masterpiece for the Beijing Central Axis. The painting is planned to be hung at the the Zhengyangmen Gate in August this year.