"Buddell and his sculptural art" debuted at Tsinghua

Beijing, November 20 (China News Network) (Reporter Ma Haiyan) "Return and Reinvention: Buddell and His Sculpture Art" large-scale exhibition opened at the Tsinghua University Art Museum on the 20th.

Feng Yuan, the Chinese chief curator of this exhibition and director of the Art Museum of Tsinghua University, introduced that Antoine Boudle was born in 1861 and died in 1929, and was a famous French sculptor, painter and educator. As Rodin's right-hand man and close friend, Boudell's sculptures were influenced by Rodin's aesthetic ideas, but he eventually opened up a path of art with a unique personal style. Buddell also trained many excellent artists in his lifetime, and artists such as Liu Haisu, Pang Xuanqin, and Pan Yuliang, who are familiar to Chinese audiences, have been taught by him.

The exhibition focuses on Budel's masterpieces from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, including 38 bronze sculptures, 2 oil paintings, 8 watercolors, as well as several drawings and precious historical pictures, all from the collection of the Boudell Museum in France.

Budel's bronze sculpture Dance was created in 1912. Courtesy of the organizer

The exhibition is divided into seven units. The first unit, "The Origins of Boudle's Creation", presents the archaeological artifacts that Bouder used as a reference and inspiration during his studies to master the art of sculpture; the other six thematic units, "Pallas (1887-1905)", "Apollo (1898-1909)", "Hercules the Archer (1906-1909)", "Fruit (1902-1911)", "Penelope (1905-1912)" and "The Champs-Elysées Theatre and the Dying Centaur (1910-1914)" etc., it focuses on Budel's unique creative methods and concepts of reshaping ancient classic characters and themes.

Ancient Greek sculpture was the object of Bouder's imitation and learning since his art, and he constantly drew inspiration from the classical ideal beauty of these sculptures. The works in this exhibition, whether it is "Pallas", "Apollo", "Fruit", "Poñeropo", or the reliefs of the Champs Elysées Theatre and "The Dying Centaur", the audience can glimpse the shadow of ancient Greek sculpture and architecture.

Amelie Smyer, the french chief curator of the exhibition and director of the Boudle Museum in France, said that if Buder himself is alive, he will be very happy to see his works exhibited in such a top academic hall as Tsinghua. He is also an educator and is willing to communicate with Chinese artists. I hope that the exhibition will be successful and colorful.

The exhibition will run until April 30, 2018. (End)