Carving History: Shanghai’s Wartime Woodcut Exhibition

Carving History: Shanghai’s Wartime Woodcut Exhibition

Shanghai is hosting a throwback art fest at the China Art Museum: "Carving History – Shanghai and the New Woodcut Narratives of the War of Resistance (1931–1949)"! Running now to mark the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, this exhibit is all about raw, powerful prints that shaped a generation’s fight for justice. 🎨🪵

Back in the late 1920s and ’30s, Shanghai was more than neon lights and jazz clubs — it was the epicenter of modern thought, where artists, writers, and activists mixed tradition with bold new ideas. Woodcuts, an art form dating back to the Tang Dynasty, got a remix: quick to print, easy to share, and packed with revolutionary spirit.

At the heart of the movement was writer and intellectual Lu Xun, who saw woodblock printing as the perfect medium for resistance. Each piece was cheap to produce, easy to reproduce, and made a big noise in newspapers and flyers back then!

Wander through halls lined with stark black-and-white prints that roar with symbolism: scenes of solidarity, calls for action, and unity in the face of oppression. It’s art that informed, united, and inspired people during some of the most turbulent years in modern history.

Whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or Insta-hunter 📸, "Carving History" offers a fresh perspective on how creativity can fuel social change. Don’t miss this cultural time capsule at the China Art Museum in Shanghai, on the Chinese mainland.

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