The exhibition was initiated by archaeologists Xu Jian and Chen Yujun. By creating a dialogue between contemporary art and historical artifacts, it aims to encourage Chinese audiences to pay greater attention to local culture.

Section One, “Soul of China,” is set in Luoyang—the birthplace of “China” as a civilization. Luoyang was the earliest and longest-lasting ancient capital in Chinese history, known over time by names such as Jingluo, Dayi, and Shendu, before finally becoming Luoyang. This land has transmitted systems of ritual and legal order as well as profound cultural achievements, and has long served as a spiritual homeland toward which generations of Chinese people have been drawn.

The two artworks, “Cave Sky” and “Three Thousand Worlds,” seek to express local culture through references to the grottoes and to the legacy of the longest-enduring ancient capitals in China.