A group photo of Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and guests from China and Greece
Demonstrate the Glory of Chinese Art
Promote the Dialogue of the Eastern and Western Civilization
Wish a Permanent Peace in the World
In the evening of May 10th of Greece local time, “Art and Peace-Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Works of Art” sponsored by the China Artists Association, an art feast from China was held its opening ceremony at the famous Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art located in an important time-honored port city in the north of Greece. This is the third stop since the international theme-based tour exhibition was launched in 2016 which has been held for three consecutive years and it is the first exhibition under the project of “Chinese Art’s Trip to the World” of the China Artists Association in 2018. Over 40 exhibits including traditional Chinese paintings, oil paintings, prints and sculptures vividly demonstrated the value of “Harmony is Precious” of the Chinese nation and the beautiful aspirations and relentless pursuits of the Chinese people and told the story of “Art and Peace” in the eyes of Chinese artists to the audiences from Greece and other European countries with excellent artistic expression.
Posters outside the Museum
Excellent Contemporary Chinese artworks made its debut at a Greek ancient city
On the opening day, everything worked as planned although in the face of an unexpected heavy storm. Late in the afternoon of that day the Museum is crowded with people and the large posters posted outside the building created a good atmosphere. Guests present at the opening ceremony were Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Dong Zhanshun, Director of International Department of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Xie Li, Director of the Art Communication Network Center of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Xu Li, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Executive Chairman of the China Artists Association, Tao Qin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Secretary General of the China Artists Association, Wang Chao, the First Secretary of the Culture Department of the Embassy of China to Greece, Mr. Alexandros Thanos, Central Macedonia Vice-Governor of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Xanthippi Skarpia Hoippel, President of Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Mrs. Sophia Kaitatzi, Vice President of the Thessaloniki National Museum of Contemporary Art, Ms. Maria Tsantsanoglou, Curator of the Thessaloniki National Museum of Contemporary Art.
Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles is announcing the opening of the exhibition
On the opening ceremony, guests from different countries all spoke highly of the exhibition and appreciated the development and achievements the China Artists Association has made in the past few decades. They thought that Chinese art is an important part of the world art. It is believed that the exhibition would be an art festival with high standard for the Greek audience. The exhibition also expressed positive prospect for the future communication between China and Greece and best wishes for permanent friendship and peace.
Xu Li, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Executive Chairman of the China Artists Association is making a speech at the opening ceremony
Xu Li, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Executive Chairman of the China Artists Association made a speech at the opening ceremony with the authorization of Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles declared the opening of the exhibition. He mentioned that, in the 4th century B.C., Confucius and Plato, two great philosopher and thinker separately from China and Greece laid foundation for the brilliant civilization of China and Greece. Although the Eastern countries and Western countries are isolated from one another, the pursuit for the true, the good and the beautiful and a harmonious world is common. Literature and art form the significant characteristics of a country and the culture of the nation and they also serve as an important link to connect the emotions and hearts of people from different countries. China and Greece achieved great success in art communication in recent years. In the past year the Special Exhibition of Greece was successfully held at the 7th Beijing International Art Biennale and Ms. Lydia Koniordou, Greek Minister of Culture and Sport attended opening ceremony. The Exhibition of Contemporary Chinese Works of Art held in Greece came as a friendly return visit to further promote the prosperous development of art in both countries and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.
Mr. Alexandros Thanos, Central Macedonia Vice-Governor expressed congratulations for the exhibition. He said in an emotional way that cultural communication is inseparable in communications of all aspects. He reviewed the close connections and practical achievements in culture and tourism between China and Greece in recent years and specially mentioned that he would accompany the Central Macedonia Governor to Beijing to discuss projects cooperation. He promised they would continuously deepen the contact with China and do their best to show the time-honored cultural traditions and splendid civilizations of both China and Greece to the world. Li Yi officially announced the opening of the exhibition.
Mr. Alexandros Thanos, Central Macedonia Vice-Governor is delivering a speech
International Artistic Standard and Features with High Quality and Diversity
Tao Qin，Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Secretary General of the China Artists Association introduced that the exhibits are composed of three parts: Artworks focused on the theme of Belt and Road Initiative, excellent collected works from previous Beijing Biennales and achievement works of the Overseas Training Project for the Chinese Middle-aged and Young Artists and all of the works are from art masters in China. It is not large in number but we can also get the big picture from these exhibited works.
Tao Qin，Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Secretary General of the China Artists Association is guiding the guests from China and foreign countries to appreciate the works
Guests from China and foreign countries are appreciating the works
Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles is talking with Mrs. Xanthippi Skarpia Hoippel, President of Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
Besides, the exhibition also include parts of the excellent collected artworks of previous Beijing Biennales, focusing on the themes with general concerns of the international community, for example, Disappearing Sceneryby Wang Fushun, Living in Surrounded City by Peng Wei, Mcdonald’s –China by Li Lihong, Fried Breadstick with CREAM by Tan Xu and so on, revealing the diversified humanistic scenery during the process of rapid urbanization. The sculpture Polo by Fu Zuodong describes the contemporary forms of traditional sports; Tree of Chopsticks by Luo Zhinan appeals to people to protect the ecological environment and build our common homeland in the form of artwork.
Xu Li Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Executive Chairman of the China Artists Association and Tao Qin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Secretary General of the China Artists Association are accepting an interview of local media
Crowds of audiences at the exhibition
The third part of the exhibits comes from the achievement artwork of those who take part in the Overseas Training Project for Middle-aged and Young Artists. One thing that needs to mention here is that two master artists Shi Feng and Hou Yaozhou separately created two artworks namely Impressions of the Piraeus in Greece and Athens Style which will be permanently exhibited at the Embassy of China to Greece.
The Greek audiences are appreciating the exhibition
“The Double Hundred” Policy is Committed to Provide China’s Project for the Art Circles in Greece
Before the opening ceremony, the delegation of the China Artists Association had an exchange with representatives of the Greek artists. Tao Qin made a keynote speech on the historical evolution of Chinese art, the general introduction of major international exchange projects and interpreted deeply on the appreciation of exhibited works. Mr. Spyros Pengas, Vice-Mayor of the City of Thessaloniki pointed that the contemporary Chinese Art plays an active role in the international art community and all the exhibits demonstrate the diversity of contemporary Chinese art. He believed that the exhibition would exert an important influence on the art and culture of Thessaloniki.
Chinese and Greek artists and representatives of scholars are present at the seminar
Tao Qin，Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Secretary General of the China Artists Association is making a keynote speech
Ms. Maria Tsantsanoglou, Curator of the Thessaloniki National Museum of Contemporary Art hoped to further expand the openness of the art field between China and Greece, to attract more Chinese audiences to pay attention and love the Greek Contemporary art and to broaden the cooperation in other aspects between the two countries.
Richard Whitlock, a Greek artist had been to the Central Academy of Art to work as a lecturer. He had made in-depth study of Chinese paintings and he believes that both China and Greece have some painting traditions and they may have something in common when it comes to perspective as they chose the scattered perspective instead of the focused perspective, such as the artwork by Hou Yaozhou, Athens Style, which deserves our further research and he thought this kind of creative thinking may represent the new direction or trend for future art development.
Representatives from all walks of life in Greece are present at the seminar
Mr. George Divaris, a professor with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki had the same feeling with Richard Whitlock. He said he could sense that contemporary Chinese artists are making efforts to combine the tradition and modernity. He believes that the long history of China is one of the reasons behind the artwork creations of many contemporary Chinese artists. Interestingly, he specially mentioned the “Double Hundred” Policy proposed by Chairman Mao Zedong, which has already become a rule abided by the art circle in Greece in their art exploration and discussion. The practice of the policy stands for China’s project supported by the Chinese wisdom for the development of the world culture and it gave a strong boost for the right judgment of the art circles in Greece when they face diversified and complicated cultural issues.
Tao Qin pointed that, art and peace represents the highest spiritual aspirations of people. For thousands of years, the Greek art is committed to praise the wisdom, power and spiritual pursuit of people, to express the vigorous and graceful figure and mind, to highlight the great simplicity and serenity, to express the aspirations for peace and beauty, which has become a permanent art model that won recognition of later generations. China is also a nation that takes “harmony” as the most significant aspiration and always pursues peace. In the process of anti-aggression and safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, China has suffered a lot that it deeply understands that peace does not come easy. Chinese artists praise peace, pursue harmony and aspire for simple emotions which should be our common belief.
The delegation led by Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles is meeting with the persons in charge of art institutions in Greece
After the exhibition, Li Yi met with the persons in charge of art institutions in Greece and conducted a frank and efficient exchange on the artist exchange projects and residency projects and arrived at several cooperative intentions. The exhibition will be closed on May 27th.
Participating Works
徐里(中国)Xu Li(China)
山高水长／2015／油画／90cm×120cm
High Mountains and Long Rivers／2015／oil painting / 90cm×120cm
徐匡(中国)Xu Kuang(China)
扎西和他的羊 / 2005 / 黑白木刻 / 150厘米×100厘米
Corydon and his Sheep / 2005 / print / 150cm×100cm
2008第三届北京双年展作品
Works of the 3rd Beijing Biennale, 2008
阿鸽(中国)A Ge(China)
奔 / 2004 / 水印木刻 / 130厘米×90厘米
Running / 2004 / print / 130cm×90cm
2008第三届北京双年展作品
Works of the 3rd Beijing Biennale, 2008
方向晖(中国)Fang Xianghui(China)
中华卫士 / 2006 / 布面油画 / 162厘米×120厘米
China Warrior / 2006 / oil on canvas / 162cm×120cm
2008第三届北京双年展作品
Works of the 3rd Beijing Biennale, 2008
侯明峰(中国)Hou Mingfeng(China)
驼背上的古道 / 2016 / 丝网版画 / 61厘米×120厘米
The Ancient Road on Camel Backs / 2016 / screen print / 61cm×120cm
2017第七届北京双年展作品
Works of the 7th Beijing Biennale, 2017
刘涛(中国)Liu Tao(China)
五色土和符号 / 2016 / 中国画·纸本设色 / 170厘米×163厘米
The Five-colored Soil, an Emblem / 2016 / ink and color on paper / 170cm×163cm
2017第七届北京双年展作品
Works of the 7th Beijing Biennale, 2017
李静(中国)Li Jing(China)
旦 / 2014 / 雕塑：景泰蓝、镜面不锈钢 / 90厘米×80厘米×45厘米
Heroine in Chinese Operas / 2014 / sculptures: cloisonné, mirror-like stainless steel / 90cm×80cm×45cm
2017第七届北京双年展作品
Works of the 7th Beijing Biennale, 2017
彭震中(中国)Peng Zhenzhong(China)
日记·交河故城印象 / 2016 / 中国画?纸本水墨 / 130厘米×190厘米
Journal:Impression of the Ruins of Jiaohe / 2016 / ink on paper / 130cm×190cm
2017第七届北京双年展作品
Works of the 7th Beijing Biennale, 2017
郭心聪(中国)Guo Xinchong(China)
新观察 / 2006 / 雕塑 / 70厘米×60厘米×100厘米
New Observation / 2006 / sculpture / 70cm×60cm×100cm
2010第四届北京双年展作品
Works of the 4th Beijing Biennale, 2010
彭伟(中国)Peng Wei(China)
围城之居 / 2009 / 黑白木刻 / 120厘米×80厘米
Living in Surrounded City / 2009 / print / 120cm×80cm
2010第四届北京双年展作品
Works of the 4th Beijing Biennale, 2010
崔俊(中国)Cui Jun(China)
蚀 / 2009 / 油画 / 130厘米×160厘米
Corroding / 2009 / oil painting / 130cm×160cm
2010第四届北京双年展作品
Works of the 4th Beijing Biennale, 2010
付作栋(中国)Fu Zuodong(China)
马球 / 2006-2007 / 玻璃钢 / 70厘米×68厘米×68厘米
Polo / 2006-2007 / fiber steel / 70cm×68cm×68cm
2008第三届北京双年展作品
Works of the 3rd Beijing Biennale, 2008
王福顺(中国)Wang Fushun(China)
即将消失的风景 / 2006 / 布面油画 / 180厘米×180厘米
Disappearing Scence / 2006 / oil on canvas / 180cm×180cm
2008第三届北京双年展作品
Works of the 3rd Beijing Biennale, 2008
谭旭(中国)Tan Xu(China)
有CREAM的油条 / 2009 / 雕塑 / 50厘米×50厘米×60厘米
Fried Breadstick with CREAM / 2009 / sculpture / 50cm×50cm×60cm
2010第四届北京双年展作品
Works of the 4th Beijing Biennale, 2010
罗志楠(中国)Luo Zhinan(China)
筷子树 / 2006—2009 / 油画 / 120厘米×100厘米
Tree of Chopsticks / 2006—2009 / oil painting / 120cm×100cm
2010第四届北京双年展作品
Works of the 4th Beijing Biennale, 2010
刘玉庭(中国)Liu Yuting(China)
花·物语 / 2009 / 雕塑 / 33厘米×67厘米×88厘米
Flower?Story / 2009 / sculpture / 33cm×67cm×88cm
2010第四届北京双年展作品
Works of the 4th Beijing Biennale, 2010
李立宏(中国)Li lihong(China)
麦当劳—中国(2件) / 2004 / 陶瓷雕塑 / 38厘米×42厘米×12厘米× 2(局部)
Mcdonald’s _China(two pieces) / 2004 / pottery sculpture / 38cm×42cm×12cm×2(part)
2005第二届北京双年展作品
Works of the 2nd Beijing Biennale, 2005
陈政明(中国)Chen Zhengming(China)
小镇倩影／2016／中国画／138cm×68cm
Beauty in Small Town／2016 / Chinese painting / 138cm×68cm
董小明(中国)Dong Xiaoming(China)
圣托里尼·希腊／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
Santorini, Greece / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
方向(中国)Fang Xiang(China)
清迈契迪龙寺／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
Wat Chedi Luang Temple, Chiang Mai / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
高毅(中国)Gao Yi(China)
乌克兰老人像／2009／中国画／136cm×68cm
Portrait of an Ukrainian Old Man / 2009 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
何加林(中国)He Jialin(China)
天空之城／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
City in the Sky / 2016／Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
侯耀洲(中国)Hou Yaozhou(China)
斯洛伐克首都印象／2016／中国画／138cm×69cm
Impressions of the Slovak Capital / 2016／Chinese painting / 138cm×69cm
黄华三(中国)Huang Huasan(China)
科威特小夫妻／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
Young Kuwaiti Couple / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
贾浩义(中国)Jia Haoyi(China)
蒙古人／2016／中国画／137cm×69cm
Mongolian / 2016／Chinese painting / 137cm×69cm
李爱国(中国)Li Aiguo(China)
白俄罗斯的夏天／2016 ／中国画／136cm×68cm
Summer of Belarus / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
李鼎成(中国)Li Dingcheng(China)
巴厘之舞／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
Bali Dance / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
李青稞(中国)Li Qingke(China)
阿联酋扎耶德清真寺／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
The United Arab Emirates’ Shaikh Zayed Mosque / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
梁时民(中国)Liang Shimin(China)
罗马尼亚佩列什王宫／2016／中国画／135cm×69cm
Romania’s Peles Castle / 2016 / Chinese painting / 135cm×69cm
石峰(中国)Shi Feng(China)
马其顿奥赫里德湖印象／中国画／2016／136cm×68cm
Impressions of Macedonia’s Lake Ohrid / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
孙岱婵(中国)Sun Daichan(China)
味韵／2017／中国画／136cm×68cm
Charm / 2017／Chinese painting／136cm×68cm
孙震生(中国)Sun Zhensheng(China)
摩尔多瓦的阳光／2016／中国画／138cm×68cm
Moldovan Sunshine／2016／Chinese painting / 138cm×68cm
王冠军(中国)Wang Guanjun(China)
今夜不回家 / 2017／中国画／136cm×84cm
Won’t Go Home Tonight / 2017／Chinese painting / 136cm×84cm
余光清(中国)Yu Guangqing(China)
波鲁纳鲁瓦古城／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa / 2016／Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
张复兴(中国)Zhang Fuxing(China)
拉脱维亚掠影／2016／中国画／136cm×68cm
Latvian Silhouette / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
张亮(中国)Zhang Liang(China)
捷克克鲁姆夫小镇／中国画／2017／80cm×165cm
Cesky Krumlov in Czech／2017／Chinese painting / 80cm×165cm
郑百重(中国)Zheng Baizhong(China)
海市蜃楼／2016 / 中国画／136cm×68cm
Mirages / 2016 / Chinese painting / 136cm×68cm
朱道平(中国)Zhu Daoping(China)
遥忆布拉格／2016／中国画／135cm×68cm
Recalling Prague / 2016／Chinese painting / 135cm×68cm
罗文勇(中国)Luo Wenyong(China)
布鲁克林的暮色／2016／油画／120cm×90cm
The Twilight of Brooklyn／2016／oil painting / 120cm×90cm
