Original artwork description:

Xu Bin's original oil painting, titled "Dunhuang - Dreams of Yumen Pass I," captures the rich history and culture of Yumen Pass in China. The painting depicts a low city gate tower made of earth, which is the only remaining structure after years of wind and sand erosion.

The painting features two shining belts on the wall of Yumen Pass, resembling film reels that record the history of the place. The camel caravans depicted in the film suggest the rich history of Yumen Pass and Dunhuang. The film stretches towards the audience, a metaphor for history stretching from ancient times to the present.

The nearby film becomes a road, with modern street lamps on one side and Karez wells on the other. Karez wells are an irrigation facility that has been in operation for thousands of years, highlighting the ancient history of the area.

Xu Bin's painting of Yumen Pass depicts a place that was once an ocean ten thousand years ago and is now a completely desert location. Yumen Pass is painted as a boat floating on the sea, symbolizing the place's journey through time and history.

Three tourists on the tower of Yumen Pass are shining their flashlights on the ocean below, searching for something. The shells and gravel on the bottom of the water glisten in the light of the flashlights and street lamps. The ocean represents not only the history of Yumen Pass, but also the past of the artist himself.

The tourists all look the same, representing the artist's past, present, and future. This suggests that the painter has been examining his past, thinking hard, and discovering the way forward.

Overall, Xu Bin's painting "Dunhuang - Dreams of Yumen Pass I" beautifully captures the rich history and culture of Yumen Pass, while also reflecting on the artist's personal journey. The painting is a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving history and exploring one's own past to move towards a brighter future.

Materials used:

oil paints

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