A reproduction of Bodhisattva in Contemplation from Cave 57 of the Mogao Grottoes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Dedicated work

Since 2016, the Gongbi Painting Institute of the Chinese National Academy of Arts has led the ancient Silk Road mural reproduction project.

More than 200 meticulously selected mural experts have been involved in the vast project, conducting research across more than 10 countries along the ancient Silk Road and in at least 20 cities and regions in China. The project has completed academic reproductions of murals from more than 30 grottoes, temples and tombs, ranging from large-scale masterpieces to small fragments. It is the world's largest mud-based mural reproduction project.

"We began our reproductions in Xinjiang. In particular, the Kizil Caves were the first stop for Buddhism entering China, where the earliest murals can be found. Then there's the Dunhuang Caves, another key site along the Silk Road in the Hexi Corridor," explained mural copyist Han Maoyuan. He added that the images chosen for reproduction must align with their aesthetic standards, have strong artistic value and a high degree of completeness, or represent endangered murals.

To faithfully reproduce the murals, the copyists used local mineral materials to capture the original works' authenticity as closely as possible.

"If we used paper for reproduction, it wouldn't fully capture the murals' current appearance," said Han, who explained that the original murals could be seen as a type of shallow relief, having undergone weathering and the passage of time.

"Their surface holds not only the information of the mural itself but also the traces of history, including restoration details which we need to replicate," he said.

To ensure the colors are accurate, the copyists also take color reference cards into the caves, ensuring consistency under the same lighting conditions. Additionally, the artists face challenging working conditions, as they often work on-site in desert locations. A small-scale copy by a single artist usually takes two to three months to complete, while larger works, involving multiple artists, can take several months.

Han said the mural reproduction project will continue. One of the team's current endeavors is a collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where members aim to reproduce a large-scale Yuan Dynasty mural from Guangsheng Temple in Shanxi province, titled Buddha of Medicine Bhaishajyaguru (Yaoshi Fo).

"Our ultimate goal is to deepen the common emotional resonance and cultural understanding among humanity in the context of the integration of civilizations," concluded Zhou.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.