Rare Chinese Artwork Now On Display And Available For Purchase In Boston

(ContentDesk) September 9, 2005 -- Hosanyi, located at 1054 Beacon St. in Brookline, MA, is now displaying an incredible 13-foot-long produced by artists in central China's Henan Province. Made in the ancient Chinese straw pyrography style, this marks the first time such a work of art has been available in the U.S.The is an artists' rendition of the 12th century Qingming Shanghe Tu handscroll, one of the most celebrated and debated works of art in Chinese history. The original, painted with ink and light colors on silk by imperial court painter Zhang Zeduan and held in Beijing's Palace Museum, was probably commissioned by Emperor Song Huizong himself. Highly celebrated since its creation, the Qingming scroll has been admired for its historical detail and realistic artistic style, and has been the subject of numerous studies throughout its long history.

The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, who especially admired the scroll, commissioned artists to copy its style and composition.These artists from Henan Province specialize in the production of straw pyrography, an art form which originated during China's cultural renaissance in the Sui Dynasty (580-618 A.D.) It is composed of finely cut wheat straw, and a woodburning pen is used to create the various shades of color. This art stepped into its golden age in the Tang Dynasty (619-907 A.D.), regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization. It became one of the most popular art forms in ancient China, favored by aristocrats, wealthy businessmen, and literati. However, with the overthrow of the Tang Dynasty in 907 A.D. and subsequent fragmentation of China into five northern dynasties and ten southern kingdoms, the art of straw pyrography was lost in the chaos caused by centuries of endless war.

The Qingming Shanghe Tu piece now on display is a wonderful example of Chinese straw pyrography. It requires seven highly skilled and experienced artists working together two full weeks to complete. This is the first time such an has been available for viewing in the U.S. A similar Qingming piece made by these same artists has been displayed in the Great Hall of the People, China's main government building, located in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, as well as the Asian Games Village in Beijing. It has won an award at a Singapore arts show and is owned by several Chinese government officials and celebrities, including well-known singer Song Zuying."This is truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece," Sam Ho, owner of Hosanyi.

"I don't know of any other artists in the world who can produce such a piece. These artists from Henan are quietly gaining a following in China, and the people of Boston are fortunate to be the first Americans with the opportunity to view their works.".