Over 100 Mural Replicas Recreate Dunhuang Caves at Full Scale
Chamber of Young Snow is collaborating for the first time with The University of Hong Kong Libraries to present the three-month “Dreamlike Dunhuang: Recreating the Grandeur of Dunhuang” exhibition. Running from June 7 to September 7 at HKU Libraries, the exhibition is now open to the public with free admission. Meticulously curated by the Dunhuang Academy, The University of Hong Kong Libraries, and Chamber of Young Snow, this event marks the first occasion on which the Dunhuang Academy has partnered with both a Hong Kong higher education institution and a private organization to stage an exhibition.
The exhibition features 78 representative Dunhuang artworks (including sets), interpreted through six major themed sections:
• Unit 1: Silk Road Journeys
• Unit 2: Colors on the Wall
• Unit 3: Majestic Buddhist Palace
• Unit 4: The Human World in All Its Forms
• Unit 5: Treasures of the Stone Chamber
• Unit 6: Roaming the Pure Land
and is complemented by immersive digital film, showcasing the enduring craftsmanship and cultural heritage of Dunhuang’s caves over the millennia.
A highlight of the exhibition is a life-size, full-scale 1:1 precision replica of Dunhuang Mogao Cave 45, complete with all four interior walls and the caisson ceiling adorned with Tang dynasty mural designs. The ceiling recreates the original slanted visual illusion found at the historical site. Within the cave are seven unique polychrome sculptures, faithfully restoring the revered Buddhist scene: the principal Buddha seated in lotus posture upon a Sumeru throne, surrounded by disciples, bodhisattvas, and heavenly kings. The bodhisattva sculptures are especially distinctive, modeled after the female form, with graceful “S”-shaped curves, soft postures, subtly upturned lips, and lively, expressive eyes. In contrast, the heavenly king statues embody dynamic power and vigorous presence.
On the third floor, the “Roaming the Pure Land” section creates an immersive digital art experience that celebrates Dunhuang Buddhist art. This includes celestial and musical-dance murals, as well as a large animated screen playing “Dunhuang Mural Shadows,” which brings static mural scenes to life with moving figures that appear to “dance” before visitors. The exhibition also presents ten special caisson ceiling patterns from the Mogao Caves, displayed on illuminated lightboxes suspended from the ceiling. Floor cushions beneath allow visitors to recline and gaze upward, taking in the richness of Dunhuang’s caisson artistry.
As a signature element of “The University of Hong Kong Libraries Chamber of Young Snow Culture Festival,” the exhibition is complemented by five public lectures, two cultural performances, and eight workshops, with all sixteen events sold out due to enthusiastic public response.
This is a translated version of the original article. View the source here:
Chamber of Young Snow and The University of Hong Kong Libraries Co-Host “Dreamlike Dunhuang: Recreating the Grandeur of Dunhuang” Exhibition | U Blog
