Basic Information

Participants: Six students of the Graduate School of Fine Arts (Specialized in Conservation, Painting/Mural Painting, Aesthetics and Art History)
Location: Kizil, Xinjiang, China
Period: October 28-1, 2017

Achievements

In this project, which aimed to nurturing specialists who can actively work on the global stage utilizing their multi-faceted specialist knowledge, an international collaborative research was conducted for the reproduction of murals from the Kizil Caves in Baicheng County, Xinjiang, an area that was a strategic hub of the Silk Road in ancient times, involving cross-disciplinary approaches of production techniques and materials, restoration of painting, conservation science, and art history. In front of the original murals, the participants from Tokyo Geidai held a frank discussion with local partner researchers from Kucha Academy of Xinjiang. We all were directly stimulated and excited by the discussion that dealt with highly detailed topics.

At the symposium that was held after the visit to the murals, presentations were made by Researcher Zhibo Zhou (周智波), who had studied as a research student at Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai), and Professor Haruya Kudo of Tokyo Geidai, respectively. Researcher Zhou publicized his research outcomes at Geidai regarding the reproduction of murals in Kizil and also in Dunhunag. Professor Kudo presented on engraving (incisione), one of the techniques used for the murals in Kizil. Participants from both institutions exchanged and deepened the knowledge of various mural techniques.

The Kizil Caves is located far from a nearby town, in a desolate area with a desert and mountains. The contrast between the richness of the murals and the harsh natural environment surrounding them offered the students truly valuable insights. Thanks to the local partner institution, we were also able to visit the Simsim Caves, which are not usually open to the public.