A traditional Chinese scroll painting depicting prehistoric civilization in Hunan Province was on display at the National Museum of China from February 20 to March 27.
Measuring 140 meters in length and 1.8 meters in height, this artwork is the product of two years of collaboration among several contemporary Chinese art masters. It offers a panoramic depiction of Hunan's prehistoric civilization, spanning 500,000 years of history.
The scroll begins with the primal existence of the region's earliest inhabitants, who migrated across the floodplains and crafted tools by striking stones. It then transitions to portray the transformative shift brought about by rice cultivation and the rise of settled life.
Alongside the stunning piece, the exhibition featured 49 sets of prehistoric artifacts, comprising 91 individual pieces. These included stone tools unearthed from the Pengtoushan site (dating back 9,400-8,200 years), pottery from the Gaomiao Culture (dating back 7,000 years) and jade pieces excavated from the Chengtoushan site (also dating back 7,000 years). Each artifact resonated with the scroll's different scenes and themes, making for a tangible connection to the past.
This exhibition presented a fusion of Hunan's archaeological discoveries and artistic interpretation, offering visitors a visual and historical journey through the region's prehistoric trajectory toward civilization.
(Text and photos by Wei Yao)
