posted 09-07-2007 01:34 AM               

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One Of A Kind Chinese Treasure "An Ode To China" Visits Los Angeles

Imagine a single canvas on which Picasso, Pollock, DeKooning, Dali and Monet had original painted images. Further imagine this canvas accompanying astronauts John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong on their historic space mission with each astronaut autographing the entire body of work upon return to earth. The historic significance of this event has now been repeated for the Orient with the arrival of famous Chinese 20th century artists and Chinese astronauts in the marriage of science and art in a mission of peace for the new millennium.

Famed Chinese auctioneer Shaoning Li is visiting Los Angeles this week showing three priceless scrolls featuring individual paintings by 168 of China's master painters. These artists are representative of the 56 different races of China embodying its diversity. The three unique scrolls, each 90 feet in length, are composed of individual panels painted by each of the artists. The three scrolls embody work representing Figures, Flowers and Birds, and Chinese landscape in traditional Chinese style.

With the approval of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Culture, Li has embarked on a "Journey of Peace" visiting four continents with this one-of-a kind art exhibit. The scroll exhibit has traveled to Dubai, where it was personally hosted by the Prince of Dubai, in Malaysia by the King and Queen, Singapore and Macau. It is now embarking on its occidental tour as it arrives in Los Angeles this week.

Recently, the scrolls accompanied China's first three astronauts on the country's second manned space mission, Shenzhou VI. The scrolls were personally escorted to the manned spacecraft by Chinese President Hu Jintao. The scrolls were the only such artwork carried by the spacecraft, which gives the work a unique positioning in the art market. Of the scrolls President Tao stated: "We will uphold the banner of peace, development and cooperation; adhere to peace seeking foreign policies… and … we will build and promote a lasting peace together with peoples the world over…"

These scrolls will be sold at an international auction in October, 2007, and the proceeds will go to the endowment of the arts of China. Mr. Li predicts that within 10 years time the scrolls market value will exceed $130,000,000.00.

Recently the largest insurance policy for special property since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China was obtained on the scrolls, and Li has deemed the exhibit to be a parallel to the voyages of Chinese explorer, Zheng He.

These one of a kind scrolls will be on display for the press at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars in the Olympic Ballroom on the Plaza level, Friday September 7th from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. and is open to the general public.

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