Artillery Of Ancestors: Decoding Si Chuan’s Art Battlefield

#summervacay

🏛️ Sichuan Art Museum: Chengdu’s Canvas of Tradition & Revolution
A dual-venue epicenter of Sichuan’s artistic soul — where ancient ink-wash landscapes collide with revolutionary woodcuts and avant-garde contemporary works.

📍 Locations
New Museum (Main):
‣ Address: 6 Renmin West Road, Qingyang District (beside Tianfu Square).
‣ Architecture: Sleek modern façade with latticework inspired by Shu brocade.

Old Museum (Closed for Renovation):
‣ Formerly at 20 Huaxing Street — now primarily used for archives/storage.

🎨 Collection Highlights
Sichuan Ink-Wash Masters:
Zhang Daqian’s dreamy landscapes, Chen Zizhuang’s poetic bamboo scrolls.

Revolutionary Woodcuts:
Powerful black-and-white prints from the 1930s–40s, documenting China’s wartime resilience.

Ethnic Minority Art:
Vibrant Qiang and Tibetan thangka paintings, embroidery, and ritual masks.

Contemporary Sichuan:
Experimental works by Luo Zhongli, He Duoling, and emerging Chengdu-based artists.

✨ Key Features
Free admission (bring ID/passport for ticket).

Rotating exhibitions: 70%+ space dedicated to temporary shows — from calligraphy biennales to digital art.

Silent storytelling: Minimal English labeling; focus on visual impact.

Architectural symbolism: Roofline mimics rolling Sichuan hills; interiors use natural light like a Song Dynasty scroll.

⏳ Practical Info
Hours: 9AM–5PM (closed Mondays).

Nearby: 5-min walk to Chengdu Museum; 10-min to Wenshu Monastery tea houses.

Avoid: Lunch hour (12–1:30PM) — local tour groups crowd popular exhibits.

🌿 Why Visit?
"Where Zhang Daqian’s mist-shrouded peaks hang beside steel-and-neon installations. This is not just art — it’s Sichuan’s history breathing through ink, revolution, and pixel."

Pro Tip: Pair with Chengdu Museum next door for a full day of culture (both free!).

Insider Note: The old Huaxing Street venue housed China’s first woodcut archive — its spirit lives on in the new museum’s Ground Floor Revolutionary Wing. Ask staff about viewing rare Lu Xun-era prints!