Shanghai sculpture show sees Rodin, Sanxingdui in dialogue

This cellphone photo taken on Dec. 13, 2023 shows sculptures displayed during an exhibition titled "Glory of Bronze Civilization" in east China's Shanghai. An exhibition featuring sculptures by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin and bronze relics from China's Sanxingdui Ruins opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and France. (Xinhua/Sun Liping)

SHANGHAI, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition featuring sculptures by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin and bronze relics from China's Sanxingdui Ruins opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and France.

The exhibition titled "Glory of Bronze Civilization" includes masterpieces such as "Head of Balzac" and "The Thinker," along with 19 other world-class Rodin sculptures.

The Sanxingdui Ruins site represents a significant era of bronze civilization spanning from 1600 BC to 1400 BC. Several Chinese museums jointly presented 36 exquisite Sanxingdui bronze sculptures dating back over 3,000 years, including a bronze human-head figure with a gold mask.

In a written message to mark the opening of the exhibition, Amlie Simier, director of the Rodin Museum in France, said, "It is an honor to see them being exhibited alongside the exceptional bronze objects representing the artistic achievements of the ancient Chinese. Separated by more than 3,000 years in time, these works can be contemplated in this 'dialogue' since their 'inner truths' are intertwined across space and time, as if from the same era."

Wu Weishan, curator of the National Art Museum of China, said that the museum held a Rodin art exhibition in 1993 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, and it was very well-received.

Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. "This time, the dialogue between Rodin and the Sanxingdui relics will spark new inspiration," Wu added.

This cellphone photo taken on Dec. 13, 2023 shows items displayed during an exhibition titled "Glory of Bronze Civilization" in east China's Shanghai. An exhibition featuring sculptures by the French sculptor Auguste Rodin and bronze relics from China's Sanxingdui Ruins opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and France. (Xinhua/Sun Liping)