Since 2006, Zhejiang Province decided to conduct the “Significant Historical and Cultural Topics in Art Creation Project”, to represent the influential historical figures and events based on Zhejiang’s 7000-year-history, and to outline the profound culture and history through art creation that catch the zeitgeist. Presented by Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Finance and Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, co-presented by Zhejiang Daily Press Group, Zhejiang Radio & TV Group and Zhejiang Publishing United Group, organized by Zhejiang Artists Association and China Academy of Fine Arts, the grand opening exhibition of Zhejiang Art Museum “The Gaze of History: Grand Exhibition of Major Historical and Cultural Events in Zhejiang” opened at August 9, 2009. The “Significant Historical and Cultural Topics in Art Creation Project” was completed after 3 years, which exhibited 113 masterpieces, including 69 artworks with significant historical topics, 17 artworks with significant realistic topics, among which there were 57 Chinese paintings (including 27 landscape and flowers-and-birds Paintings), 27 oil paintings, 13 printmaking works and 16 sculptures. In order to let the audience and the society fully understand the creations and thoughts of the artists, thus to promote the academic research of Creative Subject, the project also edited the archives entitled The Thickness of the Gaze, embodied the vivid personal letters and interviews of the artists, and revealed their manuscripts, sketches and materials. The project will hold an exhibition at Zhejiang Art Museum and all works will enter its permanent collection. The travelling exhibition will also be prepared.
