Without traveling all the way to Dunhuang,you can explore the "Special Caves of Mogao Grottoes" right in Haidian,and also get the limited-edition "Green Horse" from the Gansu Provincial Museum!
Recently,the Beijing Times Art Museum at Bloomage LIVE · Beijing Wukesong,officially opened its annual self-curated exhibition — "Blooming upon Awakening".
At the museum, our reporter observed that the exhibition brings together 12 works by 17 artists. It blends cultural heritage with artistic expression, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as interactive new media, biotechnology, mechanical installations, and optical fibers to create a comprehensive sensory experience for visitors. On-site, there are also delightful surprises, including intangible cultural heritage experiences and limited-edition trendy toys, seamlessly integrating art appreciation with engaging interactions. This has made the exhibition a must-visit cultural landmark in Haidian!
The most popular attraction at the exhibition is "A Glimpse Across Millennia: Replica of the Mogao Grottoes Cave 285 (Partial)".
According to reports, this piece was meticulously crafted over the course of a year by the Restoration College of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, replicating Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes Cave 285 at a scale of 1:0.7. "The work employs a wooden keel structure combined with traditional mud plaster ground layers, hand-painted stroke by stroke using mineral pigments. Through three distinct sections — layered ground production, current-state copying, and restorative copying — it undergoes meticulous refinement to reproduce the delicate textures and color nuances of the original murals. It is almost identical to the actual cave, and this 'authentic texture' is something no other exhibition can match", a staff member from the Beijing Times Art Museum told reporters.
To further enhance the immersive experience for visitors, the exhibition specially provides each attendee with a small lantern. By entering the cave-like space with a lantern in hand, visitors can slowly wander and admire the murals covering all four walls, perfectly recreating the unique experience of exploring the real Mogao Grottoes.
A resident surnamed Hou, who visited the exhibition, shared her impressions:
"Here, the details are astonishingly clear — the dated inscriptions on the Northern Wall, the classic murals on the Southern Wall, and the various deities on the ceiling. Even the original mural depicting the phrase 'Lay down the butcher's knife and attain Buddhahood instantly' can be examined up close. It allows me to experience firsthand the profound weight and exquisite craftsmanship of this thousand-year-old art."
Elsewhere in the gallery, Xu Zhongmin's "Mo De Shi" and Liu Xinyu's "The Victory of a Second" employ strikingly impactful visual expressions to vividly capture the tension of life's accumulation, circulation, and explosive energy. After viewing them, one cannot help but feel a deep resonance.
Two standout light-and-shadow masterpieces, "Flow" by 0.1Lab and "Dust in Red" by Tang Jie, deliver the ultimate combination of "visual delight + soulful healing". Every snapshot you take captures the atmospheric beauty, making it the perfect spot for both exhibition exploration and photo-worthy moments!
Don't rush off after viewing the exhibition. The internet-famous Gansu Provincial Museum's exclusive limited-edition "Green Horse" has arrived as promised. You can easily take one home without fighting for tickets, and its adorable charm brings instant comfort. In addition, the exhibition brings together the delicate textures of Longyou prints, the rustic beauty of Gansu clay-painted murals, the sweet flavors of Jingning fruit, and creative cultural products from the Dunhuang Book Center.
Each piece represents a brilliant fusion of intangible cultural heritage techniques and modern aesthetics, resonating with the profound legacy of Silk Road civilization while radiating a warm, everyday-life charm. Here, cultural heritage is no longer an abstract concept — it becomes a tangible treasure you can touch and take home. A stroll through this section not only offers meaningful souvenirs but also immerses you in the vibrant, living charm of revitalized intangible cultural heritage — a true "happiness stop" that is a must-visit on your exhibition journey!
"As the 15th self-curated exhibition in the 'Cloud' series at the Beijing Times Art Museum, this exhibition draws on the Bloomage 'Public Welfare · Cloud' Project and originated from the creative team's in-depth fieldwork in Gansu," a staff member from the Beijing Times Art Museum shared with reporters. "The so-called 'awakening' lies in touching the roots of ancient civilizations; the so-called 'blooming' lies in using technology and art as a bridge to breathe vibrant new life into millennia-old cultures. The exhibition weaves the textures and spiritual essence of civilizations into its creations, ensuring that 'Blooming upon Awakening' is not just visually stunning but also reaches the soul through a comprehensive sensory experience."
The exhibition will run until March 22, 2026.Feel free to invite your friends and family to the Beijing Times Art Museum,and experience the power of life's awakening and civilization's blooming through the dynamic interplay of technology and art.
