The Breath of Ancient Color

A kaleidoscope of history and color unfolds in the exhibition A Thousand-Year Legacy of Caihua, hosted in the shimmering Main Hall of the Palace of Eternal Longevity. Here, Caihua - literally “color painting” - reveals its essence: not merely architectural ornamentation, but a bearer of symbolism and Chinese philosophical thought, capable of protecting wooden structures from the elements while concealing their flaws and scars. The exhibition unfolds in two movements: the Tradition section guides visitors through seven thematic units, showcasing 43 historical artifacts and design samples spanning from the Sui to the Qing Dynasties. It offers a clear panorama of the stylistic, chromatic, and hierarchical evolutions of official-style Caihua. Its rigorous motifs - dragons, stylized flowers, symbolic divisions - evoke the laws of the Five Elements and the ceremonial aesthetics of ancient China. In the Innovation section, young artists trained by the China National Arts Fund reinterpret this age-old technique, exploring new languages and materials. Here, Caihua becomes contemporary - a bridge between past and future, ritual and personal vision. Though limited in number, the works on view offer a rich, immersive experience: each piece, meticulously composed in detail and color, demands a patient and contemplative gaze, transforming the viewer into an explorer of textures, layers, and meanings. A visual ritual where matter and memory converse, rediscovering the vibrant enchantment of Chinese architectural polychrome painting.