A critical review of the application of paleo-art in paleontological exhibition–a case study of the Dinosaurs of China exhibition in Wollaton Hall and Lakeside Arts, Nottingham

Paleo-art has become an important element in paleontological exhibitions after a long development. Since 1996, new discoveries of feathered dinosaurs offer paleo-art an unprecedented freedom of creation, which provide both opportunities and challenges for curators. The Dinosaurs of China exhibition hosted in Nottingham in 2017 was a platform to test the best ways of showing contemporary paleo-art along with fossils on display. The experience gained from this exhibition confirmed that paleo-art could not only help visitors understanding but could also be misleading. Additionally, the key concerns revealed by the exhibition can also be found in other areas of science. Therefore not only should the selection and application of paleo-art be carefully evaluated by curator, but also the experience of using paleo-art should be shared as widely as possible with colleagues in other scientific disciplines.