A giant Chinese painting that was carried into outer space by
Shenzhou VI and has recently been traversing the globe will be
displayed in Shanghai free of charge until Thursday.
It will be auctioned off on September 30 when it is expected to
fetch up to US$10 million or more. The proceeds will be used to
encourage fine art in China.
The 90-meter-long painting, "Ode to Shenzhou," was created by
168 of China's most famous painters. They have all signed it,
together with three astronauts, Yang Liwei, Nie Haisheng and Fei
Junlong.
It is made up of three parts - feature, flowers and birds and
landscapes - and is on show at the InterContinental Shanghai in
Pudong New Area.
The painting has been displayed in 12 cities of seven countries,
including the United States, Canada and Australia, during its
"Peace Travel." It has just been shown in Hong Kong and next stop
is Singapore.
According to the China Softbill Auction Group, the painting will
go under the hammer with a reserve of US$9.6 million, indicating
the 9.6 million square meters of land area of the country.
The auction site has yet to be chosen and hinges on application
details from a number of cities.
"The money will be used to set up a China art fund to award
anyone contributed to fine arts," said a company manager surnamed
Liu.
The painting has been insured for 290 million yuan (US$38.2
million) by the China United Property Insurance Company.
Shenzhou VI blasted off on October 12, 2005, carrying the
painting.
The 90-meter-long painting that was carried
into outer space aboard the Shenzhou VI that China launched in
October 2005 will be on show free of charge in Shanghai until
Thursday before heading to Singapore.?
(
Shanghai Daily July 3, 2007)
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