At the Anhui Museum, step into the world of Pan Yuliang and explore the life and legacy of a pioneering artist who boldly fused Chinese and Western styles.
On April 10th, the long-awaited Pan Yuliang Art Exhibition opened at the Anhui Museum. This major exhibition welcomes the public and will stay open for an extended period.
A Life Shaped by Struggle and Art
Pan Yuliang, a trailblazing female artist, left a lasting mark on modern Chinese art. She was born in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, in 1895.
Her early life brought many hardships. She lost her parents at a young age and ended up in a brothel. Later, Pan Zanhua rescued her and encouraged her to study fine arts.
Pan taught at several universities in China before moving to Paris, where she lived and worked for 40 years. During her time in France, her artistic reputation steadily grew.
Her influence reached far beyond France. She traveled to cities like London and Edinburgh, engaging in art exchanges and visiting renowned galleries and exhibitions across the UK.
Pan developed a unique artistic voice that blended Eastern delicacy with Western boldness. British art critics praised her ability to bridge two artistic worlds with grace and power.
An Evolving Legacy on Display
Staff at the Anhui Museum say Pan’s art captures a powerful dialogue between the self and her time. Through this exhibition, visitors can follow her creative journey and connect with her evolving vision.
The exhibition showcases over 4,700 works from the museum’s collection. The first phase features more than 130 carefully selected pieces. Future rotations will keep the experience dynamic and highlight the full vitality of Pan Yuliang’s art.
A haunting example of her work is a self-portrait completed during World War II. In thE self-portrait, Pan Yuliang created a classical atmosphere of Chinese style. She wore a black embroidered cheongsam and sat beside a table with flowers, her deep eyes containing strong melancholy. Painted in the midst of World War II, she was living in the suburbs of Paris that had just fallen to Nazi Germany. In the midst of conflict with an uncertain future, at the time she was missing her relatives and motherland that was facing Japanese invasion.
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