Constructed in the early 1950's during the modernization drive of the City after the establishment of the Peoples Republic. The monolithic structure is itself one of Beijing's finer surviving buildings in style of Chinese communist architecture.
As a showpiece of the newly installed totalitarian communist government, during its early history the China (National) Art Gallery functioned mainly as a Gallery of idealized Chinese Art and a mouthpiece of communist propaganda. In the 1950's and Sixties the museum was filled with idealized depictions of Mao, the Red Guards, Chinese Olympic Heroes or other noteworthy model-citizen examples for the Masses of Chinese Citizens.
These Times have meanwhile past.
The current day China Art Gallery hosts a multitude of magnificent exhibitions, from the truely old and rare, to new and totally modern art, the result of the rapid changes that have been sweeping China in the last 10 years.
Among the subjects: painting, caligraphy, printing art and sculptures.
More recently foreign artists of exceptional skill or promising new directions have been invited to hold exhibitions at the Gallery annex Museum.
The China Art Gallery of Beijing is the highest Institute, Museum and Gallery of Art in China.
China National Art Gallery in Beijing - Directions - How to Get There
Find it easiest by going to the North Gate (Shenwu Men) of the Forbidden City across from which stands the Jingshan (Coal) Hill. From here walk due East on busy Jingshan Dajie' until reaching the corner of the Palace (Forbidden City) Walls and Moat. Here, follow the route that takes a slight turn to the North, which is WuSi Dajie'. Note - do not head south outside and along the moat into BeiChizi Dajie.
On Wu Si Dajie , which is the Avenue of the May the 4Th Movement, you will be passing the Monument to the May the 4Th 1919 AD Movement of Beijing Students, before reaching the Museum of Arts. The monument is wedged between two wide boulevards. Keep walking East + North from the Palace Museum Corner Intersection and you should find the Museum and Art Gallery standing on the North Side of the Boulevard, within 4 to 500 meters from the Corner Intersection.
Shopping atChina National Art Gallery in Beijing
A well-stocked print and art supplies shop is
History of the China National Art Gallery in Beijing
The construction of the National Art Gallery started in the year 1958 AD. Although at the Time unfinished, in 1959 AD, in conjunction with the 10 Year Celebration of Communist Rule and the Establishment of the Peoples Republic of China, the China National Art Gallery was declared one of the Nations Top Ten Architectural feats. It is the largest Art Gallery in China (P.R.C.), even today.
The National Art Gallery was finally opened in the year 1962 AD since when it has been open to the General Public with a display of the highest forms of art achieved in China. It is the largest State Financed National Museum of Art.
The National Art Museum was one of the 10 major reconstruction projects carried out under central city planning in the year 1959 AD.
The current day museum measures over 6000 square meters in exhibition space , divided up into 14 seperate sections or departments of the Museum. The collection of the Chinese National Museum of Art counts over 10.000 pieces of Art. Caligraphies, painting, printing, pottery and sculpture. Artist hold their ateliers inside giving the public an opportunity to participate, learn and find out more.
Architecture of the China National Art Gallery in Beijing
Although still somewhat Stalinist in first appearance, the China National Art Gallery has its own very distinguished Chinese Style. It could be dubbed Stalinist-with-Chinese- Characteristics. The Museum is decorated with a Stele inscribed by Mao Zedong himself and covers a total area of 30.000 square meters of which some 6.000 square meters are available to the exhibition halls.
The National Art Gallery building consists of a main body in the style of a traditional pavilion. It's high multi-eaved roof section of the central portion of the building is balanced on both sides by long corridors extending East and West. The roofs of these structures and the eaves of the wings of the building are embellished with yellow glazed tiles in traditional Chinese style. The creamy brick walls blend harmoniously with the colorful glazed tile decorations on the pillars, giving the entire facade a tasteful appearance, more soft than the hard-faced Politically Inspired Monuments of TiananMen Square.
Inside the Museum are three floors with altogether 13 Exhibitions Halls illuminated by special lamps that do not emit ultraviolet radiation that could damage the exhibited art pieces. The Main "Round Hall" of the Museum covers a 480 squere meter area and has room for the largest art pieces on it's walls. Adjacent Exhibition Halls cover a floor area of 470 Square Meters and have huge glass arks used for Exhibitions. Last but not least the four corner Halls of the Museum offer 500 Square Meters of Exhibition space each.
A new addition, the painting storage house of the National Art Gallery offers 5000 Square meters of Storage Space for the large and varied collection of this National Art Museum.
The Exhibitions on the second and third floor usually are coordinated with the Art Exhibition inside the main round hall.
Starting due East of Jingshan Park at the corner and Moat of the Forbidden City, the WuSi Jie', Avenue of the May the 4Th Movement stretches Eastward to the China National Art Gallery and Museum. Along its northern length - the small but noteworthy and honored Momument to the Movement of May the 4Th 1919 Ad, when Beijing Students ignited a Nationalist Strife in defense of China and the Chinese Culture.
located within the gallery where you can get your art supplies as well as study books. Post-cards, reproduction and picture books for the eager tourist are also on plenty supply.
More information on the Chinese National Museum of Art due soon on this Page !
