Li Chengxian
Li Chengxian, born in 1924 in Shanghai, was an artist and researcher on Dunhuang art. She was married to Chang Shuhong, and cooperated with him on many masterpieces, such as “To Those Who Dared to Climb Everest.” She also created some Chinese traditional paintings such as “Dunhuang Music and Dance” and “The Silk Road/Flying to the Sky” on her own. She has copied over 340 square meters of frescoes.
In recent years, the number of people visiting Dunhuang has increased rapidly, which has raised the temperature and humidity and increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the caves. Li Chengxian has proposed to control the number of people visiting the Mogao Grottoes. She says the situation is like a cancer to the frescoes.
According to Chang Jiahuang, Li Chengxian’s son, she spent four months restoring the original frescoes according to the fractions. Chang Jiahuang also worked on the protection of the frescoes after his parents.
In her old age, Li Chengxian used to walk 80 steps into the Grottoes, and climbed up the shelves to paint. She always painted for the whole day up on the shelves without getting down, since the walking and climbing was very difficult for her. Her hard work and devotion have impressed many people.
In December, 2002, she was diagnosed with cancer. On 4:00 a.m., August 28, 2003, she passed away at the age of 79.
By: Jiang Haiwen
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