USC Hosts “Reunion: Mei Lan-fang and the United States” Exhibition Celebrating Peking Opera Legend
Los Angeles, September 13, 2024 (LAPost) — In honor of the 130th anniversary of Mei Lan-Fang’s birth and the 94th anniversary of his historic visit to the United States, the University of Southern California (USC) has launched the “Reunion: Mei Lan-fang and the United States” EXHIBITION in collaboration with China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese National Academy of Arts (CNAA).
The exhibition, celebrating the life and achievements of the world-renowned Peking Opera artist, opened today at USC’s East Asian Library.
From Left: Li, Shufeng, CNAA Vice President; WANG Taiyu, Consul, Head of the Culture Office at the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles; Melissa Just, Dean of USC Libraries; Glenn Osaki, Director of the US-China Institute (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
The opening ceremony included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USC Libraries and CNAA, symbolizing a strengthened partnership and future cultural collaborations. Dean of USC Libraries Melissa Just and CNAA Vice President Li Shufeng delivered remarks highlighting Mei Lan-Fang’s artistic legacy and global influence.
“All of us at the USC Libraries are thrilled to host this exhibition at the USC East Asian Library,” said Dean Just, referring to the historic significance of Mei Lan-Fang’s visit to the U.S. “Ninety-four years ago, Mei Lan-Fang crossed the Pacific to introduce Peking Opera to American audiences. In 1930, our university honored him with an honorary doctorate, which is featured in the exhibition.”
Li Shufeng, Vice President of CNAA(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Li Shufeng, Vice President of CNAA, spoke of Mei Lan-Fang’s pivotal role in U.S.-China cultural exchanges, noting how his performances in Los Angeles received widespread acclaim from both theater enthusiasts and scholars. “He was a cultural ambassador, offering Americans a window into China’s rich history and traditions,” Li said.
USC Professor Joshua Goldstein also shared his research on Mei Lan-Fang’s artistic accomplishments.
USC Librarian and USC US-China Institute Director presented library souvenirs to Mei Weidong (Left 2) and Mei Ruiqi(Left 1) (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Mei’s grandson, Mei Weidong, expressed his hope to continue his grandfather’s legacy of fostering cultural understanding and peace.
Ivy Gao (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
To conclude the event, a live Peking Opera performance was given by two young talents: 16-year-old Chelsea Chen, who performed a scene from Mu Guiying Takes Command, and 12-year-old Ivy Gao, who presented a segment from The Drunken Beauty—offering attendees a firsthand glimpse into the art form that Mei revolutionized.
(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore Mei Lan-Fang’s artistry and contributions to cultural diplomacy, continuing a story that began nearly a century ago.
The exhibition is divided into four sections: “Disciples of the Opera,” “Master of Dan Roles,” “Cultural Ambassador to America,” and “Reunion Today.” The exhibits on display are rich and diverse, including oil paintings and traditional Chinese paintings by renowned artists from various periods, historical photographs that recreate the past, and a variety of rare publications. From the perspectives of culture, history, and art, the exhibition fully presents the profound and exquisite traditional Eastern aesthetics and spiritual essence represented by the great artist Mei Lanfang, offering it to a broad American audience.
Mei Weidong (Left 1) (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
The event saw notable attendees including USC faculty and CNAA officials, as well as WANG Taiyu, Consul, Head of the Culture Office at the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles; Wu Daiwei (David), Director of the China National Tourism Office in Los Angeles; Glenn Osaki, Director of the US-China Institute; Tang Li, Acting Head of the USC East Asian Library; and Mei Lan-Fang’s great grandson Richard Mei, further underscoring the event’s international significance and highlighting the enduring impact of Mei’s legacy on cultural diplomacy.
The exhibition is jointly organized by the China National Academy of Arts and the University of Southern California (USC). It is co-hosted by the Art and Archives Department of the China National Academy of Arts, the USC Libraries, the USC U.S.-China Institute for International Communication and Marketing, the USC East Asian Studies Center, and the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. The event is also co-sponsored by the National Peking Opera Company of China, the Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum, and the Taizhou Municipal Government of Jiangsu Province, China.
The exhibition will run through December and features rare artifacts and multimedia showcasing Mei’s career, including his 1930 U.S. tour that earned him an honorary doctorate from USC. (By: Richard Ren/LAPost)
