Exhibition commemorates Peking Opera figure's legacy

Los Angeles was the most significant stop during Mei's US visit. It was in LA that he was welcomed by Hollywood and opera enthusiasts, receiving recognition from both the performing arts and academic communities. Notably, USC awarded Mei an honorary doctorate.

"In honor of this recognition that has spanned a century, we followed in Mei Lanfang's footsteps and brought his life and art back to the campus, which held a deep affection for him, continuing this beautiful, romantic story," Li says.

The exhibition runs until Dec 20 and has four sections — Children of Liyuan, Master of Danjiao, Envoy to the US and Reunion Today — that feature oil paintings and traditional Chinese artworks centered on Mei.

The exhibition also has a range of significant academic publications on Mei and the Mei School of Art, along with artifacts such as vintage photos, playbills and maps from Mei's 1930 visit to the US.

"Through these multifaceted objects, the exhibition brings Mei's journey, stagecraft and his historic tour of the US to life, offering audiences a captivating glimpse into the aesthetics and spiritual essence of traditional Chinese opera, as embodied by Mei," Li explains.

Melissa Just, dean of USC Libraries, says that the connection between Mei and USC makes the East Asian Library the perfect venue for this exhibition.

"With Mei's (exhibition) return to USC, this beautiful reunion allows us to step back in time and explore his remarkable life. This is a true cross-cultural collaboration," Just says.

The exhibition marks the beginning of cooperation between the Chinese academy and USC. The two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding for exchanges in the next five years. All the exhibits have been donated by the academy to USC.

Mei and the traditional Chinese culture, represented by Peking Opera, have been the subjects of continuous research by US scholars. One notable scholar is Joshua Goldstein, a professor of history and East Asian languages and cultures at USC. Goldstein has spent decades researching the evolution and dissemination of Peking Opera. His book Drama Kings: Players and Publics in the Re-creation of Peking Opera, 1870-1937 mentions Mei's visit to the US, highlighting its significance in Peking Opera's development and international impact.