The original draft for the painting, The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China, on display at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Art Museum in Beijing from Dec 19 to Jan 8. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

An exhibition that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Dong Xiwen's birth recently opened at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Art Museum in Beijing.

Dong Xiwen (1914-73), a pioneer artist and teacher of Chinese oil painting, was famous for his painting The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China, a popular piece of art known nationwide for its depiction of the grandness of the country's birth in 1949.

Dong also created numerous works of art of great artistic and historical value, like Baiwanxiongshi Xia Jiangnan (Millions of Soldiers Cross the Yangtze River) and The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

The exhibition, Chinese-style Oil Painting, assembles under one roof more than 120 pieces of Dong's work collected by several big museums, such as the National Museum of China, The Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, and the National Art Museum of China.

The original draft of the painting, The Founding Ceremony of the People's Republic of China, which once was believed to be lost for 50 years, was rediscovered by Dong's family before the exhibition and is being displayed to the public for the first time.

Certain sections of the exhibition focus on Dong's creations in Dunhuang and Tibet. During the 1940s, Dong spent several years studying and copying the Buddhist frescoes located in Dunhuang, works that greatly inspired his art throughout his career.

During the 1950 and 60s, he went to Tibet three times, each time creating many important works reflecting the changes and looks of the region and its people, as shown in works like Sprin Ccomes to Tibet.

The exhibition will run until Jan 8.