If you do nothing else this spring, get yourself over to the Art100 new exhibition space and feast your eyes on an extraordinary collection of world famous bronzes, by one of the most important French Impressionist artists; Edgar Degas (1834-1917).
72 of Degas’ exquisite bronzes have been painstakingly collected from museums and art connosieurs all over the world, arranged over several floors in tasteful displays including bathers, horses and of course enchanting ballerinas.
Pride of place is The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. It is not well known that Degas made his original sculptures in wax, clay and plasticine. It was not until shortly after his death that his heirs arranged for them to be cast in bronze.
Interestingly, recent forensics have emerged elsewhere that show Degas used old bits of paint brushes and even the occasional wine cork as ballast inside the forms that he created.
The wax Dancer herself was originally dressed in a real tutu, bodice, stockings, shoes and had a horse hair plait stirred in with lashings of thick gluey wax. The excellent BBC documentary (in English) that runs in the gallery gives even more fascinating insight into the tragic life and times of this iconic and mysterious young girl. There is however, a heart warming suggestion that the delightful young school girl in the gallery complete with satchel and a determined somewhat whimsical look on her face, may have been her luckier surviving sister.
This not to be missed exhibition in Nanjing runs until 10th May but is closed on Mondays. Opening hours: 10am -7.30pm. Last entrance at 7.00pm. Adults ¥100, Children under 120cms are free. Student discount avaialble. The ART100 Gallery 138 is located on Tonghuai Street in Jiangning District (Nearest Metro: Tianyuan Xi Lu; Line 3).
