MSPIFF Spotlight on China: “A Day on the Grand Canal with the Emperor of China”

The 2018 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, April 12–28, presents this special film screening to highlight Mia’s special exhibition “Power and Beauty in China’s Last Dynasty: Concept and Design by Robert Wilson.”

A Day on the Grand Canal with the Emperor of China, or: Surface Is Illusion But So Is Depth

Director Philip Haas and artist David Hockney take viewers on a fascinating exploration of China through a 72-foot-long Chinese scroll titled “The Kangxi Emperor’s Southern Inspection Tour.” Painted in the 1600s by Wang Hui (1632–1717) and assistants, the scroll was executed before Western perspective was introduced into Chinese art and depicts a continuous travel narrative filled with details of daily life in the countryside along the emperor’s route. As Hockney unrolls this beautiful, minutely detailed work of art, he brings Chinese history to life while tracing the country’s artistic vision and innovation. (1988, 46 min., in English)

Tickets will be available later this month; please check back for details. For more information, please visit mspfilm.org.