The Song, Painted is a virtual and interactive exhibition that brings to life the Chinese Song Dynasty (960-1276) – a period of elegance and enlightenment that sparked a thousand revolutions in art and society.
Here in Malaga, 3D technology and traditional animation bring the unique Song Dynasty story to life.
Sponsored by CGTN, this online experience brings together over 110 masterpieces from more than 10 museums from around the world, including the Shanghai Museum, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace Museum, Taipei, and The National Museum of Asian Art in Washington.
Works by masters like Su Hanchen, Wei Xian and Liang Kai – as well as anonymous, enigmatic artists – are waiting to be discovered.
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The online experience of China's Song Dynasty brings together more than 100 masterpieces from museums the world over. /CGTN Europe
Since March the exhibition has already had over 130 million visitors. And you can visit for free right here.
"The Song, Painted exhibition is a unique opportunity to discover the thousand-year-old Song Dynasty, a fascinating period when painting reached a zenith," Vanesa Diez Barriuso tells CGTN. She's the director of Spain's Jorge Rando Museum, which has close ties to China's art world.
"There's a mutual admiration between the art worlds of both countries," she continues.
"Here in this museum we have an exhibition of Picasso and Jorge Rando, two artists that expressed huge admiration for Chinese art and were also admired by Chinese greats like Qi Baishi."
Diez Barriuso of Spain's Jorge Rando Museum says the Song Dynasty is when painting reached "a zenith." /CGTN Europe
Proud to officially present the exhibition at a promotional event in the sun-soaked inner courtyard of the Jorge Rando Museum, Diez says:
"Not only is it an opportunity to discover the masterpieces of the (Song Dynasty) era but also to learn about the history. The fact that it's virtual means anyone, anywhere, can access it for free."
Journey through time to the Song Dynasty
The exhibition is an immersive journey through time back to the 'Song Dynasty' in China over a thousand years ago, a time when technology, science and art flourished.
The Song Dynasty made great advances in art and society. Many of the things we take for granted today can be traced back to that time.
They issued the first banknotes, created the first 'true north' compass and even established social welfare programs with public health clinics and retirement homes. It was a true period of enlightenment.
The advances in art were significant too. Screen printing might have been made world-famous by U.S. artist Andy Warhol, but was actually invented during the Song Dynasty.
Ink on silk and stencils depicted nature and humanity using depth and space in a pioneering style.
The paintings reflect Taoist beliefs that positioned humanity as small dots in a vast cosmos. /CGTN Europe
Human representations were often tiny next to the breathtaking grandeur of nature, reflecting Taoist beliefs that positioned humanity as tiny specks in a vast cosmos.
But the exhibition goes further, taking you into the daily lives of the people of the time – their clothes, the way they learned, and how they loved in vibrant times that saw China's population double.
Song Dynasty's importance to world history
"The excitement it gives me to be able to present this exhibition here at the Jorge Rando Museum is difficult to describe," says Fernando Wulff Alonso, a professor of Asian and Ancient History.
Fernando Wulff Alonso, a professor of Asian and Ancient History, says the Song Dynasty is vital to understanding the history of the world. /CGTN Europe
"Song Dynasty history is incredibly important in the history of art, but also in the history of the world," he adds.
"It's an era that gathers together the extraordinarily sophisticated work done in China up to that time, including – contrary to popular belief – many influences from outside China, including from the silk route and China's rich seafaring history."
Crucial to the story of humanity
"On every level it's a crucially important time in the story of humanity," he enthuses.
"This exhibition shows us an enormous number of important things. Human beings are the same wherever you go and cultures are different languages we speak. We see children, we see mothers, we see women, we see the elites, we see a profile of normal people, we see reflections, contemplations of nature, we see everything. We see life itself and we see ourselves."
The Song, Painted is the latest in a series of cultural events which have taken place across Spain including traditional music, contemporary art and the arrival of the Terracotta Warriors.
Events celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Spain continue to show the ever-closer cultural ties between the two nations.