The "From London to Dunhuang – Traditional Skills on Silk Road 2019 International Forum" opened on Aug 28, 2019, at the Fine Arts Institute of the Dunhuang Academy in China.

Dr. Lisa DeLong delivers a speech. [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

Co-hosted by the Dunhuang Academy and the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts (UK), the forum brought together over 50 scholars and experts from the two countries.

The five-day event featured four academic sessions centered on three major themes: comparative studies of art across different cultures, demonstrations of unique techniques found in Dunhuang murals, and in-depth research into mural painting methods.

Dr. Adrian Iurco delivers a speech. [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

Dr. Lisa DeLong of the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts remarked that history lives vividly among us through the hands of artists. "In this sense, the traditional is also contemporary, and our collaboration represents the interweaving of both," she said.

Experts from China and UK discovers on traditional skills on Silk Road. [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

Since 2015, the Dunhuang Academy, the Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts, and China's Dunhuang Culture Foundation have maintained a close academic partnership. Their collaboration has extended across multiple fields, including research into traditional clothing and mineral pigment painting techniques.