The Ferryman of Ink World: Dong Qichang’s Calligraphy and Painting Art

Dong Qichang (1555-1636) was an influential calligrapher and painter as well as art critic during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This online version of the exhibition at Shanghai Museum brings you closer to his art and his life.

By clicking on the images included below, you will be re-directed to the web-page feature and the interactive street-view version of the exhibition.

In the online exhibition, you will find a functional menu that includes “Viewing”, “Exploration” and “Creation” options. The “Viewing” section presents the calligraphy and paintings of Dong Qichang and works by other artists that had influenced him, including Wang Xizhi (303-361), Su Shi (1037-1101), and Yan Zhenqing (709-784) in the form of pictures and explanatory texts. In the “Exploration” section, Dong Qichang's life stories, journeys, and family and friends are narrated in detail by virtue of a variety of high-tech audio-visual illustrations.. For instance, in the “Journey” section, you can follow the river boat navigating its path along the screen map to experience Dong Qichang's three art tours. In the third option, that is, the “Creation” section, there are also technological features including DIY, VR, VF to immerse you in Dong Qichang's painting art. You can scan the QR code to play interactive games and learn to paint like Dong Qichang; or by entering the VR section you can “take the boat” to explore the inner world of the famous painting “Eight Scenes of Autumn”. Moreover, by choosing the VF option, you can see "moving" paintings, enter a world of landscape paintings and experience the strong artistic atmosphere.