Everlasting Beauty of Dunhuang: The Exhibition of Chang Shana's 80 Years of Art and Design not only narrates a touching artistic story but also demonstrates a history of protecting, inheriting and innovating traditional Chinese culture across three historical periods. 

The exhibition serves as a trove of China’s splendid cultural treasures and the colorful life stories of Chang Shana, an outstanding artist. It aims to inspire the audience to realize the true essence of art that upholds fine traditions while breaking new ground.

Dunhuang in Northwest China's Gansu province possesses brilliant and dazzling cultural heritage, as well as magnificent and enduring cultural legacy. Chang Shana and her father Chang Shuhong, commendable representatives of modern and contemporary Chinese art, are famous for dedicating their lives to preserving and promoting the art of Dunhuang. 

Dunhuang is vital to China and the society. Dunhuang artworks boast great historical value to traditional Chinese culture and are significant in the history of Chinese fine arts. Dunhuang culture contributes a lot to the contemporary social life.  

Under the guidance of Lin Huiyin, an esteemed 20th-century Chinese architect, poet and writer, Chang Shana entered the field of design. Inspired by Dunhuang culture, she created practical artworks for people’s daily life, contributing to the rise of Chinese design.

In the early decades of the last century, there were many masters like Chang Shuhong who experienced the vicissitudes of the times and the incessant turmoil of war, so their patriotism was a simple emotion originating from the depths of hearts. Such sentiments were deeply rooted in their souls and manifested in their actions. 

Chang Shana, influenced by the elder generations, has always endeavored to contribute her talents to the Chinese nation's self-reliance and the great rejuvenation of Chinese culture. She has made significant achievements in various fields such as art, design and education, with a wide-ranging influence.

In his later years, Chang Shuhong wrote in his autobiography: "If there is a next life, I hope I am still Chang Shuhong, and I want to fulfill my unfinished wishes." Now, at the age of 94, Chang Shana often says, "How come I have grown old? There are still many things I haven't done yet." In this new era, she must have sensed the historical opportunities and responsibilities. All she wants is to fulfill her mission and seize the moment.

This exhibition brings the audience the woman artist’s stylish artworks and her unique artistic style formed based on 80 years of unremitting reflections and practice. She often says, "The development of artistic design should inherit the past and innovate for the future. On the one hand, we should explore and draw on the essence of traditional culture with national characteristics; and on the other hand, we should discover beauty in nature ... Whether it is design or artistic development, only by understanding the cultural context can we innovate."

The exhibition, hosted by the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum, showcases nearly 400 pieces of exhibits in six categories, namely, the biography of Chang Shana, her Dunhuang mural copies, flower sketches, decoration of Beijing's top 10 architecture, innovative applications and the combination of technology and art. 

For the first time, it presents Chang Shana’s 80 years of artistic achievements in applying Dunhuang’s cultural treasure to shape China’s national image, boosting the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture.