<em>View from the South of the Pagoda of Monk Wansong or the Old Man of Wansong (Wansong Laoren Ta) at Xisi</em> | Photo: BabelStone (Own work) via ikimedia Creative Commons
A treasure to be sought ought painstakingly, just a short walk from the Xisi Metro Station in the heart of Beijing - a tiny pagoda from the XIII Century at the centre of a lovely walled garden with roses and pomegranates. Ancient and, for a long time, hidden. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the pagoda was surrounded by the streets and buildings of the blossoming commercial centre that Beijing had become. The pagoda gets its name from the elderly wise man Wansong Xingxiu, a famous monk who lived from 1166 to 1246. We know as much thanks to the inscription on a tablet stating "Pagoda of the Old Man of Wansong”. Hidden but never forgotten, the pagoda was restored numerous times which is why it lasted so long. The last work was completed in 1986 in order to repair damage from an earthquake, bringing to light the original structure - seven levels of brick measuring 5 metres, emerging from structure of thin slabs of stone laid all about it, it is thought, in 1753. In 2013, to celebrate the renovation of the entire neighbourhood, the area was opened to the public. On the North and South sides of the courtyard, there are bookshops specialising in the history of Beijing, as well as an exhibition hall with objects and information related to the pagoda’s history.
Can Sculpture survive in an Era dominated by Manufacturing and Mass Production?
A challenging question that Nabuqi tries to answer in an experimental research exhibition that maps the various turning points in the career of an artist halfway through his journey.
Timur Si-Qin's third exhibition at Magician Space is inspired by travel near the eastern edges of the Himalayas. This region is not only a unique ecoregion and a hotspot for biodiversity, but is the birthplace of the six great rivers that supply water to a third of the world's population downstream.
The treasures of the civilizations that developed along the Silk Road
A unique collection of historical artefacts from the main museums and cultural institutions of the world to tell the story of the Eastern Silk Road. Paintings, sculptures, artefacts and other objects testify to the vitality of ancient art mixing with contemporary art interventions.
On display are 74 series of works created by Qi Baishi. Among these, a 25-page album entitled Flower Drawings found in the Academy's archives, after having been buried in dust for decades, will be shown for the first time.