Pak-China art show: Let a hundred flowers bloom

Artworks by Chinese artists reflect indigenous styles.

ISLAMABAD:

An exhibition featuring artworks of Chinese painters and calligraphers was held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts on Tuesday.

Titled “Hand in Hand 2014,” the exhibition was organised under the China-Pakistan Art Exchange programme which exemplifies creative interaction and cultural diplomacy across geographical borders.

Last year, five Pakistani artists were invited to China for a two-week art residency workshop, where they painted and exhibited their artworks in Beijing.

The current exhibition comprises more than 120 artworks by 48 artists and calligraphers from China. The Chinese artists represent their unique indigenous artistic styles and sensibilities.

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, who inaugurated the exhibition, underlined the close ties, collaborative development and energy projects between the two countries.

He dubbed the exhibition a one-of-its-kind initiative to foster people-to-people communication and sharing aesthetics. “As you know, culture and art are the essence of a country and nation’s civilisation.

The Chinese technique involves ink and water, mainly paying attention to the expression of subjectivity, attracting importance to artistic conception of the arts. Traditional art in the Western world draw attention to the actuality, paying attention to the objective expression.

“These distinctions in art create a colourful world, add diversity of civilisation which can be mutually appreciated and lead to harmony,” he said, before quoting from Mao Zedong’s slogan, “Let a hundred flowers bloom.”

The exhibition includes masterpieces of renowned Chinese calligrapher Shen Peng, 83, who prepared the artworks just before the delegation was departing for Islamabad. Titled “Grass writing,” his minimalist markings of black in on white canvas, create symmetrical patterns of the Chinese alphabet and symbols.



Peng learned poetry, calligraphy and painting during childhood. Later, he pursued literature at university. Currently, he is the vice chairman of China Federation of Literature, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Calligraphers Association, consultant of the China Fine Arts Publishing Press and the chief editor of the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy.

Chen, a guest at the gallery, was appreciative of a painting depicting an ethereal waterfall. “It looks surreal,” he said, “and almost as if you can feel the foamy showers gushing at full throttle in front of you.”

Titled “The universe at the bottom of the bottle,” the painting is the creation of the Chinese artist Xing Jianjun, who is a native of Shandong Province.  He has represented the contemporary Chinese landscape paintings along the theme of the Yellow River. His works have been showcased in international exhibitions and he has won a silver medal of Tokyo Internal Cultural Exhibition in Japan and a silver medal for the Fifth International Cultural Exhibition.

The paintings of other artists range from serene landscapes, candid portraits, shots of wildlife, ancient Chinese architecture, mythical creatures or colourful flowers against a placid backdrop. The mix of modern and classical styles of painting exudes a lightness that is pleasing to the senses while offering a vibrant slice of Chinese society and culture.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2014.