Illustrating the Ever-renewing Spirit of the Silk Road by Hundreds of Participating Countries
Appreciating Exchange and Integration of World Civilizations by Millions of Attentive Audiences
The 7th Beijing Biennale co-sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Beijing Municipal Government and China Artists Association with the theme of “The Silk Road and World Civilization” will meet its grand opening at the National Art Museum of China in 20 days. In order to facilitate your preview of those Chinese and foreign artworks before the opening ceremony, we specially selected some artworks under the category of “The Silk Road” and “World Civilizations”, which will be provided separately at 20 days and 10 days countdown to the opening ceremony of the 7th Beijing Biennale. Today, as the countdown reached the 10 days mark, we can appreciate the works under the category of “The Silk Road”.
Fifteen years have passed since we started the preparation in 2002 for the 1st Beijing International Art Biennale, China held in 2003. The Beijing Biennale has toddled his way along into a youth in his prime who, far from experienced though, is full of vigor, vitality and prospect. The number of participating countries increased from 45 in the 1st exhibition to 102 in the 7th in just 15 years, leaping on top of world international biennales testifying to a fact that the Beijing International Art Biennale is increasingly uplifting its popularity, influence and attraction in world scope, which in turn becomes a bonus point to the charisma of Beijing, the ancient cultural city as a metropolis.
Zhang Liang(China) / The Grassland Silk Road: a Happy Paradise / 2013 / mixed media painting / 240cm×200cm
Tang Xiaoli(China) / A Great Dream on the Silk Road / 2016 / ink and color on paper / 180cm×400cm
Eva M. Paar(Austria) / Voyager / 2016 / oil on canvas / 100cm×120cm
Hu Hongbo(China) / The Ancient Dialogue from the Silk Road / 2016 / integrated print / 118cm×78cm
Xie Zhen’ou(China) / The Silk Road / 2014 / gongbi on silk / 214cm×140cm
Wang Renhua(China) / An Ancient Lamp Shining in Today / 2016 / gongbi on paper / 137cm×73cm
Chen Mengxin(China) / Customs along the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road / 2014-2016 / gongbi on paper /
230cm×208cm
Yuan Jinta(Taiwan of China) / New Interpretations of The Classic of Tea / 2016 / installation: ink and cast paper / 100cm×250cm×250cm
Nasser Palangi(Australia) / Ceramics from Rayy in Persia 1 / 2015 / oil and gold
relief on canvas / 120cm×120cm
Georgia Michaelides Saad(Cyprus) / Iris Bostrensis, Silk Road / 2016 / oil on canvas /
120cm×120cm
In 1877, German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen first assigned the name “silk road” to the ancient line of communication connecting Asian, European and African continents. The term not only refers in particular to the route on land from ancient capital Chang’an to Rome jointly opened up by messenger of the Han Dynasty Zhang Qian and people of countries along the road of his visit, but also the maritime route from Quanzhou Port to countries in the East and the West. It is not only a road of trade between the East and the West, but also a road of cultural communication and heart-to-heart connection on a world scope. The camel teams in desert during the Han and Tang dynasties carried silk, pottery, paper and friendship from the central plain in exchange for Buddhist sutras, pipa, perfumes and a myriad of treasures from Western civilizations. Xuanzang, Jianzhen, Macro Polo, Ibn Battuta and Zheng He went down in history as messengers of Eastern-Western civilizations.
Zhang Hongnian(The USA) / Zhang Qian / 2011-2014 / oil on canvas / 200cm×480cm
Sun Yumin(China) / The Navigation Dream of Columbus / 2014 / gongbi on paper /
144cm×75cm
Lesstro(Poland) / Spices of Arabia / 2012 / oil on canvas / 170cm×200cm
Sun Bo(China) / God of the Sea / 2016 / mineral color on paper / 240cm×575cm
Sun Lülü(China ) / Rosy Clouds over Citong City/ 2016 / gongbi on paper / 230cm×300cm
Feng Shaoxie(China) / Istanbul in the 18th Century—Long Journey from China / 2014 / oil on canvas / 176cm×126cm
Zhang Yuhui(China) / The Maritime Silk Road / 2016 / lacquer painting / 180cm×180cm
A bond and artery connecting the Eastern and Western civilizations, the Silk Road is also a proof and symbol of communication and mutual learning among world civilizations. Mutual learning and complement of world civilizations and the shared dream of world peace and development form the evergreen spirit of the Silk Road. Just as President Xi Jinping remarked on the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, “Spanning thousands of miles and years the ancient silk routes embody the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.” As its theme “Silk Road and World Civilizations” indicates, the aim of this 7th Beijing Biennale is to carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road, advocate communication and mutual learning among world civilizations, and promote the Belt and Road Initiative by way of contemporary artistic forms so as to expedite the realization of our shared dream of world peace and development.
Yu Xiaodong(China) / The Burning Lantern Festival in Lhasa / 2016-2017 / oil on canvas / 220cm×390cm
Zhu Sha(China) / Traces of the Silk Road / 2016 / oil on canvas / 120cm×180cm
Li Aiguo(China) / A Frosty Day / 2016 / gongbi on paper / 100cm×100cm
Zhang Keyang(China) / Living a “Wechat”Life on the Grasslands / 2014 / oil on canvas / 120cm×150cm
Li Feng(China) / And, Then I Decided to Leave / 2014 / oil on canvas / 130cm×150cm
Liu Jianbo(China) / On the Way 3—the CRH / 2016 / oil on canvas / 120cm×160cm
Zhang Jishi(China) / From the Mighty Port Currents Rush Out for Ten Thousand Miles / 2016 / oil on canvas / 210cm×230cm
“The key to sound relations between states lies in the affinity between their people; the affinity between their people lies in heart-to-heart communication.” The Silk Road is a road for heart-to-heart communication. A product of people’s soul, art is the best way for that. The spirit of the Silk Road has a value shared by all mankind; therefore, the theme of the 7th Beijing Biennale has received attention and recognition from contemporary artists from all over the world. Contributions poured in thick and fast with unprecedented momentum. In the course of preparation, we received about 10,000 contributions of more than 4,000 artists from 120 countries, some of which were selected for the upcoming exhibition. The artists selected do not confine to those from countries along the Silk Road. In conformity with the Chinese mode and brand feature of the Beijing Biennale, this 7th Beijing Biennale still features paintings and sculptures, interspersed with some new media art forms like installations and videos.
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Zhang Guozheng(China) / The Journey of the Silk / 2016 / video / length：9’40”
Hou Mingfeng(China) / The Ancient Road on Camel Backs / 2016 / screen print / 61cm×120cm
Deng He(China) / Mirror of Time and Space / 2016 / sculpture: stone-like resin and stainless steel / 40cm×145cm×40cm
Zhang Zheyu(China) / Road to the Heaven / 2016 / sculpture: resin / 70cm×150cm×40cm
Farahnaz Azarabadihagh(Iran) / Road of Dreams / 2016 / acrylic and batik on canvas / 180cm×160cm
Qiu Aiyan(China) / Embroidery Characters—the Diamond Sutra / 2012-2013 / book installation: cotton cloth, embroidery with cotton threads / 43cm×78cm
Pannaphan Yotmani(Thailand) / Hollow-Really / 2016 / installation: epoxy resin, natural material /
70cm×200cm×6cm
Shi Zhongying(China) / Stream / 2012 / installation: silkworm, handmade paper / 80cm×460cm×50cm
Nikolay Tikhonov, Marina Tikhonov(Israel) / East-West / 2016 / sculpture: fiberglass and nylon fishing line /
80cm×210cm×44cm
Recollection, longing and hope for the spirit of peaceful development are even more keenly felt in works from today’s war-torn countries on the ancient Silk Road.
Hamid(Iraq) / Ishtar above the Remains of the Abbasid Wall of Baghdad / 2016 / sculpture: bronze / 39cm×7cm×24cm
The work depicts the goddess Ishtar of Ancient Babylon. The goddess Ishtar, symbol of beauty, hope and humanity for Mesopotamia, is present in every time and every place in spite of the destruction and war. The work
expressed the artist’s longing and expectation for peace.
Edward Shahda(Syria) / Family Photo / 2016 / mixed media on canvas / 146cm×114cm
The painting is inspired by the chaos in Syria, where many families have lost their home, but mothers still give birth to babies.
Radfan Almohammedi(Yemen) / The Happy Yemen/ 2016 / oil on canvas /
100cm×80cm
The civil war in Yemen continues until the recent. Discrimination, sectarianism and religion try to efface the lovely art, which is told by the old man’s eyes in the painting. He is looking sorrow at what is happening to this beautiful country but remains in hope. The wrinkles on his face for decades express the history, the civilization, and relief.
Tatiana Mitra(Russia) / Dancer of the Silk Road / 2016 / sculpture: plaster, metal mesh, wood /
100cm×30cm×100cm
Ishiodori Tatsuya(Japan)
The Vigorous Movements of Heaven / 2011 / mineral color / 167cm×340cm
Tips for you: the article is mainly excerpts of the forward of the 7th Beijing Biennale Catalogue written by Mr. Wang Yong, Member of the Curatorial Committee. Please give credit to the original writer when you use it elsewhere.
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