Liu adopted the style of administration and teaching of the art schools in Tokyo and expanded the Shanghai Meizhuan, hoping to build it into a modern school of art. He wanted to break further away from the traditional apprenticeship system, and expand the curriculum to modern art and science. A school board with prominent members such as Cai Yuanpei, Liang Qichao and Huang Yanpei was founded, which brought more funding and social influence for the art school, according to Jin.

Another area of the exhibition features Shanghai University, the first university founded by the Communist Party of China in 1922. The art department was among the first to be established at the university, and a series of renowned artists and educators worked as teachers there, such as Chen Baoyi, Chen Wangdao and Feng Zikai.

Documents on display also reflect the changes in the art education system after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, when some schools were merged and adjusted to focus on different departments.

Among the exhibits are correspondence and documents showing the communication between Shanghai artists in the early 20th century, many of whom taught at more than just one art school.

One of the first cities to open to European trade in the 1800s, Shanghai was the front line of international exchanges, and a new home of rising artistic talent.

"It was only in an open city such as Shanghai that modern art education could develop so well, with curricula and teachers shared between institutions and a confluence of different ideas," Jin says.

If you go

An Exhibition of Modern Art Education Context in China

9 am-5 pm, Sept 25-Oct 23, Tue-Sun, Liu Haisu Art Museum, 1609 Yan'an Road West, Changning district, Shanghai.

021-6270-1018.