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Amidst the vibrant contemporary art scene of Beijing's 798 district, a photography exhibition steeped in classical Eastern aesthetics is attracting considerable attention from art enthusiasts. This is the exhibition "Dusting the Pass: Album of the Forbidden City" by photographer Sun Ying. This is the first global exhibition of a photo series he has meticulously developed over nine years, as a profound tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Forbidden City Museum.
Sun Ying is affectionately known in the art world as the "poet of Eastern photography." Completely different from most fashion photographers who favor elaborate, flamboyant, and fast-paced styles, Sun Ying has chosen a challenging and solitary artistic path: a narrow one where each photograph is created with patience, meticulousness, and absolute reverence for light.
Over nearly a decade, Sun Ying has visited the Forbidden City more than 80 times. He doesn't chase quantity; his creative philosophy is "one shot per day." This meticulousness is sometimes extraordinary: he once waited four years just to capture a single moment of light, exactly as he had planned. For Sun Ying, the creative process is not simply about taking pictures, but a profound spiritual journey: "each photograph is a transformation," a fusion, a search for harmony between the modern human soul and the immortal spirit of ancient spaces.
At the Soul Art Center in Beijing's 798 Art District, the photo exhibition "Dusting the Pass: Album of the Forbidden City" by photographer Sun Ying is attracting a large number of art lovers.
It was his patience and reverence for heritage that allowed Ton Doanh to create a completely different perspective on the Forbidden City. His photographs reflect the depth of an artist who transcended the outward brilliance to discover the tranquil, serene beauty hidden within each roof tile and wall.
Unlike most fashion photographers who favor elaborate and flamboyant styles, Ton Doanh – known in the art world as the "Eastern photographic poet" –
The works in the "Collection of Works by Sun Ying" immediately astonish viewers with the question: are these photographs or paintings? The secret lies in the unique artistic style that Sun Ying pursues: "New Literary Man Painting" (新文人画). He perfectly combines modern photography with traditional Chinese painting through the technique of "hand-painted brushwork" on the photograph itself.
The works in the "Collection of Works by Tran" leave viewers astonished: are they photographs or paintings? He used his lens to capture little-known corners of the Forbidden City, then combined it with the "New Literary Man Painting" (新文人画) style, employing the technique of "hand-painted brushwork."
This meticulous combination has created poetic images, where the boundaries between photography and painting are skillfully blurred. Under the lens and hand of Sun Ying, familiar details of the Forbidden City suddenly become soft and romantic. The golden tiled roofs and red walls become gentle and tranquil. The shadows of trees, the hazy mist enveloping the space, the palace and gardens appear serene as if in an ancient dream.
In particular, the subjects in the photo series, appearing in Qing Dynasty attire, all possess an elegant, ethereal appearance with serene eyes, as if they have just stepped out of an ancient painting. This creates a feeling that is both distant and mysterious, yet strangely familiar, inviting viewers to enter the space of heritage with their whole hearts. Ton Doanh has successfully captured lesser-known aspects of the Forbidden City, thoroughly exploiting the interplay of light, color, and architecture to rediscover the purest, most pristine beauty of the East.
Through his lens, the golden tiled roofs, red walls, tree shadows, and hazy mist of the Forbidden City suddenly become soft and tranquil, like something out of a dream.
The exhibition “Sun Jun's Album of the Forbidden City” will be held at the Ling Art Center, District 798, Beijing, from September 27th to October 26th, 2025. It is a journey to rediscover the pure beauty of the East, where the past shines once again in the present, affirming “Chinese Beauty” through a completely new artistic language.
The exhibition is considered a rare opportunity for art lovers to admire a completely different Forbidden City – a Forbidden City "without queuing." Here, visitors can leisurely stroll through each frame, listening to the rhythm of time, feeling the tranquility and serene beauty of the heritage without being jostled by crowds. They are invited to wholeheartedly experience the historical value, leading viewers into a space of profound contemplation, where traditional beauty is celebrated at the highest artistic level.
