Heroism put in the frame

Red Classic, a term defining artwork that portrays the country's Communist accomplishments, constitutes an important part of modern Chinese art. Signature works of the genre are in museum collections around the country, such as The Inauguration of New China (Kaiguo Dadian), an oil work by Dong Xiwen; Thousands of Hills in a Crimsoned View, a Mao Zedong poem-inspired, colored ink landscape by Li Keran and Dujiang Campaign, a relief sculpture by Liu Kaiqu. Some are on long-term display.

The National Art Museum of China, which boasts an extensive collection of such art, has been rotating these works for exhibitions, or lending them out for display at other museums. Wu Weishan, director of the Beijing museum, says the art will play a role in teaching the history of the Communist Party of China, as the country marks the centennial of its founding this year.