In August 2014, Shibing art museum was officially opened to the public in Yungang Grottoes scenic area. Located in the east of the scenic spot, the art museum is an independent quadrangle style antique building. It is the only important place for collecting and displaying Mr. Shi Bing's precious art works, relics and historical materials in China. It is also a cultural research platform for comprehensively displaying Mr. Shi Bing's artistic career and achievements. The plaque of Shibing art museum was inscribed by the famous scholar Feng Jicai.
Mr. Shi Bing (1921-1997), formerly known as Tian Zuoliang, was born in Datong, Shanxi Province. In 1936, after joining the revolution (at the expense of the national salvation League) in Datong, he actively participated in the propaganda and organization work of Anti Japanese and national salvation, and carried out the national salvation movement in villages and towns in the form of painting. After the founding of the people's Republic of China, Mr. Shi Bing transferred from the army to work in Taiyuan, the provincial capital. He closely cooperated with the party's central work in various periods and continued to engage in art creation. During the "Cultural Revolution", they were sent back to their original places for rest. He once served as director of press and publication department of Shanxi provincial culture and Education Commission, consultant of Propaganda Department of CPC Datong Municipal Committee, chairman of Datong Artists Association, vice chairman of Datong CPPCC, member of Standing Committee of Shanxi CPPCC, consultant of Shanxi Second Light Industry Department, honorary president of Shanxi Academy of Fine Arts, etc.
Mr. Shi Bing has created a large number of Chinese paintings, comics and comic books in his life. In September 1987, CCTV introduced Mr. Shi Bing's artistic career and dramatic figure painting in the program of "Jiuzhou Fangyuan" with the title of "50 years of Danqing". In May 1992, Mr. Shi Bing was awarded the title of "people's artist" by Shanxi provincial Party committee and Shanxi Provincial People's government.
After the death of Mr. Shi Bing, his wife Li Zhuqing sorted out his works of art and relics one after another according to Mr. Shi's wishes, and generously donated them to Yungang Grottoes Research Institute, in return for his hometown's nurturing kindness to Mr. Shi Bing.
The appearance of Shibing Art Museum adds a new cultural highlight to Yungang Grottoes scenic area, creates a new artistic atmosphere, and enables people to learn more about the artistic essence of Chinese traditional culture through the appreciation and research of traditional art. The diversified ways of artistic presentation have played an important role in promoting Chinese traditional culture, carrying out cultural and artistic exchanges with overseas countries, and promoting the development and prosperity of Datong's cultural undertakings.
The main exhibits are Mr. Shi Bing's comics, sketches and comic books.
From the early 1950s to the mid-1960s, it can be called the peak period of Mr. Shi Bing's cartoon creation. At that time, Mr. Shi Bing's comics could be seen almost everywhere in many newspapers and periodicals across the country, from people's daily to comics magazine, from new observation to current affairs Handbook. As for "Shanxi daily" and "Shanxi Farmers Daily", Mr. Shi Bing's comics are at least three or four in each issue and at most four or five in each issue. It can be said that there is a surge of literary thinking, and one issue can not be collected. Most of his works in this period were political or time effective, but his diligence and high production were rare even in the national comic circle. If you don't see Mr. Shi Bing's cartoon in a certain issue of Shanxi daily, many people will write to Shanxi daily and inquire about Mr. Shi Bing's whereabouts with concern. It can be seen that his influence among the masses at that time has almost reached the level of being a household name and well known to women and children.
In the early days of the founding of new China, Mr. Shi Bing closely cooperated with the party's principles and policies and carried out the party's central task. He successively published eight comic books, such as "hard to escape the law net" (1951), "new marriage" (1952), and "red flag of increasing production competition" (1952).
Mr. Shi Bing's sketch, as one of his basic modeling skills and important forms of expression, runs through his whole painting practice and artistic career. It not only reflects Mr. Shi Bing's unique modeling style, visual interest and independent aesthetic value, but also reflects his unique sensitivity and acuity of capturing images based on reality and facing life for decades, thus showing his abundant artistic vitality. A lot of modeling training and rich material accumulation laid a solid foundation for his future cartoon creation and ink drama figure painting creation.
Several sketches on display in the art museum were donated by Mr. Shi Bing's old friends and family members. We are very grateful here. At the same time, we also hope that more people in the community will donate Mr. Shi Bing's works as the collection of Shi Bing Memorial.
The items on display in the exhibition cabinet of the art museum are: the original graduation certificate (1940) issued by the Chinese people's Anti Japanese military and Political University for Mr. Shi Bing, as well as various honorary certificates, collection certificates, employment letters, etc.; letters from readers of Shanxi daily, letters from famous Shaoxing opera performing artist Liu Lingtong, famous music theorist Lu Ji and famous painter Zhuo ran; and calligraphy and painting used by Mr. Shi Bing before his death Supplies and daily necessities.
A comprehensive arrangement of artists' works can not only better show their artistic features and summarize their achievements, but also profoundly show the changes and progress of the times we have experienced. Shibing Art Museum has undertaken such an important task and mission. The time span of Mr. Shi Bing's works of art is 1950-1996, which is basically synchronized with the development process of new China. It can be said that its rich content has opened a distinctive historical picture for us.
The main exhibition is Mr. Shi Bing's traditional Chinese paintings.
In the 1980s, Mr. Shi Bing was dedicated to the creation of dramatic figures in traditional Chinese painting. His works are ingenious, lively, vigorous and bold. They are a perfect combination of traditional Chinese painting and opera. These characters in his works are deeply loved by the people. There are Guan Yu, Bao Zheng, Zhong Kui, Wu Song, Lu Zhishen, Zhuge Liang, Hua Mulan, Mu Guiying, Qin Xianglian and sun Yujiao
In 1988, Fang Yi, the former Vice Premier of the State Council, wrote an inscription on his works, which highly praised Mr. Shi Bing's dramatic figure paintings. Zhou Gucheng, a famous historian, and fan Zeng
Through a large number of pictures, we can have a comprehensive understanding of Mr. Shi Bing's life story and artistic achievements.
In his foreword, Zhang Zhuo, President of Yungang Grottoes Research Institute, mentioned that Datong is the place where Mr. Shi Bing was born and raised. During his work in Datong, Mr. Shi Bing often went deep into the army, factories and rural areas for art creation, and became a leading figure in the art field of Datong. What's more valuable is that he has a special feeling for Yungang art. He often paints from life in Yungang Grottoes, draws creative materials and inspiration from ancient art treasures, and has formed an indissoluble bond with Yungang Stone Buddha. Shibing Art Museum has been built in Yungang scenic area, which can be described as the wish of my husband and the happiness of Datong culture.
Precious pictures record Mr. Shi Bing's road of Anti Japanese War and artistic creation.
Mr. Shi Bing is also a social activist. He has had in-depth exchanges with many celebrities and artists in his art practice activities, and has forged sincere friendship. The leaders of the party and the state have met Mr. Shi Bing many times and fully affirmed and strongly supported his artistic achievements. Wan Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress, Li Tieying, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress, Fang Yi, former Vice Premier of the State Council, Ying Ruocheng, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of culture, Tao Lujia, former Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee, Pei Lisheng, former governor of the Shanxi Provincial People's government, Wang Qian, former Secretary of the CPC Shanxi Provincial Committee and other leaders have taken pictures with Mr. Shi Bing. Yang Chengwu, the former chief of the general staff of the Chinese people's Liberation Army, Zhao Puchu, Dong Shouping, Ma Feng, and Yang Lizhou, the former curator of the China Art Museum, also left their praises.
In the electronic browser, there are 529 cartoon works, 9 comic books, 81 traditional Chinese painting works and 136 sketch works of Mr. Shi Bing. It can be seen that Mr. Shi Bing is a diligent painter. With the passage of time, his paintings will become more precious and his art will become more brilliant.