Yang Liuyi's paintings at the exhibition. Photo: Courtesy of Yang Liuyi

In celebration of the successful inclusion of the Beijing Central Axis in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Yang Liuyi, a renowned Chinese artist, held an exhibition themed around the Beijing Central Axis and the scenic spots of China's capital city.

The exhibition featured over 100 fine urban landscape paintings created with the Beijing Central Axis and its surrounding scenic spots as the main content. It attracted the attention of many art enthusiasts and cultural heritage protectors.

The 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee passed a resolution to include the Beijing Central Axis in the World Heritage List on Saturday. The Beijing Central Axis, which runs through the old city of Beijing from north to south, was first established in the 13th century and took shape in the 16th century. It has since evolved and developed into today's longest urban axis in the world, spanning 7.8 kilometers.

Its location, layout, urban form, and design reflect the ideal capital city paradigm described in ancient texts, showcasing the tradition of ancient Chinese urban planning. It witnesses the development and evolution of Beijing and stands as an important symbol embodying the distinctive characteristics of Chinese civilization. This is not only a line related to urban design but also an abstract line connected to history and culture in the imagination.

In his exhibition, Yang vividly portrays the majestic grandeur of the perfect combination of cultural and natural landscapes along the Beijing Central Axis. It reflects the artist's imaginative achievements derived from life and fully embodies Yang's creative philosophy of "promoting tradition through creation and integrating nature with the city" in urban landscape painting. It also reproduces the cultural essence and intangible cultural heritage charm of the Beijing Central Axis, awakening viewers to more multidimensional experiences of Beijing.

The purpose of this exhibition is to present Yang's artistic ideal of interpreting urban ecological civilization through painting, fully creating an artistic symbol that combines humanity with nature and embraces the city with nature. Through his creations, viewers can admire the infinite charm of the Beijing Central Axis while appreciating the contemporary architectural styles along the axis.

In his view, the Beijing Central Axis is a cultural system with multiple layers of cultural significance. In creation, it should be examined within a vast time-space relationship. He sees his creation as a "time-space train," constantly shuttling along the axis to explore the "common points" between deep history and present time and space, dedicated to showcasing the artistic charm of the Beijing Central Axis and presenting the vibrant vitality of urban landscape painting.

Yang graduated from the Nanjing Academy of Art and is currently president of the Beijing Urban Landscape Painting Research Association. His works have been collected by the National Art Museum of China, the Chinese Embassy in Italy, and other institutions at home and abroad.

Global Times