Exhibition revisits architect of New China vision

The many works of Zhou Lingzhao (1919-2023), artist, designer and former professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, were intertwined with pivotal historical moments, often helping shape the country's public image.

Among his most notable contributions was a portrait of the late chairman Mao Zedong that was displayed on the outer wall of the Tian'anmen rostrum during the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1, 1949.

Painted in the Depths of Time, now ongoing at the Art Museum of CAFA where Zhou worked for decades, traces the arc of his life and career. The exhibition examines how an individual's artistic choices unfold within a broader historical landscape — how the sweeping social transformations of the 20th century shaped Zhou's understanding of the world and art, and how his work, in turn, contributed to constructing the visual identity of the nation. The exhibition runs through March 1.