Mogao Caves, a source of inspiration for Xie Xiaoze's art

The Mogao Caves are located in the Dunhuang Region, at the Western end of the Hexi Corridor, near the Gobi Desert. They represent a unique cultural treasure in the world, now a UNESCO Heritage Site. The system carved over a span of 1.000 years, from the Sixteen Kingdoms Period to the Yuan Dynasty, consists of 735 caves, decorated with murals and statues, which embody the evolution of Chinese rock art and the lively cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. For his research conducted at the Dunhuang Foundation in the United States, Xie Xiaoze chose Cave 17, also known as the "Library Cave", as the theme. The result of that experience, the exhibition presents Amber of History: Reimagining the Library Cave at Dunhuang, a work inspired by the style of the Dunhuang scrolls, while Eastern and Western Cosmologies explores the relationship between the cave and the universe, reflecting on the macrocosm. A research focused on tradition and cultural roots.