2023Academic Year Short Course Review「Mineral Pigment Painting in Buddhist Art」

From 17 to 29 December 2023, the course “Colors of the Silk Road: Mineral Pigment Painting in Buddhist Art” was held at the Yuan Centre. This course included instruction in both the theory and practice of mineral-colour mural painting as a key element of Dunhuang art. The course was taught by Professor Wang Xueli, a Research Associate at the Dunhuang Academy. With the main subject theme of copying Dunhuang murals, students were guided to develop a deeper understanding of the evolution of Dunhuang murals and the integration of drawing techniques of different time periods.

In the first week, students developed a deeper aesthetic understanding of the Dunhuang murals and their background by studying the characteristics of different time periods, the historical origins and the evolutionary conditions behind this particular form of Chinese traditional painting. Additionally, in the practicals section students learned to prepare their own clay board bases, analyzed the characteristics of natural mineral pigments, and gained direct insights into the special beauty of Dunhuang art.

In the second week, students began the process of copying mural paintings under the guidance of tutor Wang Xueli, grasping through hands-on practice the basic attributes and colour relationships of traditional painting techniques.