An exhibition of Dongba paintings by the Naxi ethnic group was held at the Guizhou Art Museum in Guiyang city on April 16.

An exhibition of Dongba paintings by the Naxi ethnic group is held at the Guizhou Art Museum, Guiyang city, on April 16. [Photo/www.gog.cn]

The exhibition fully demonstrated the achievements of Dongba painting over the past hundred years by combining three themes – the past, the present and the future.

Classic Dongba paintings from throughout the centuries as well as another hundred pieces of Dongba art works were on show during the exhibition.

Artists present a Dongba painting at the opening ceremony of an exhibition held at the Guizhou Art Museum, Guiyang city, on April 16. [Photo/culture.gog.cn]

Dongba painting, an intangible cultural heritage of Chinese folk art, was created by the Naxi ethnic group in Southwest China's Yunnan province. It represents an artistic milestone not only in the history of China, but the whole world.

The exhibition is among a series of projects supported by the China National Arts Fund. Pan Hongyi, the project leader, said that the exhibition came about as a means to preserve Dongba culture. The project group detailed the development of Dongba painting over the centuries.

The exhibition is being hosted by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture, Lijiang Teachers College, Guizhou Painting Institute and Guizhou Art Museum and is scheduled to last until April 24.

Apart from Guiyang, the exhibition will also be held in over?10 other cities in order to build appreciation for Dongba culture across China.

Zhao Yandi contributed to the story.