“China Culture & Art International” First Show in New York
On October 1, 2014, “Chinese Culture & Art International” exhibition, a long-term art exchange project between the representatives of contemporary Chinese art and internationally renowned art authorities, opened in Robert Livingston Manor in Germantown, New York. The exhibition was made possible by the Chairman of Rose Rock Group Steven Rockefeller Jr. and the Vice-Chairman of ICCC (International Council for Caring Communities), Ms. Gong Tingyu, as well as advocacy from many well-known China culture enthusiasts.
This Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition was held in Germantown of northern New York State. The exhibition was located along the Hudson River, which is famous for its golden autumn season when the robust natural scenery is at its prime. The well-known Hudson River School in the American art history started from here, and so it is with the Rockefeller family, who has an important impact on the United States and the world. The venue of the exhibition once belonged to Mr. Robert R. Livingston, a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Chinese culture has always been an important component of world culture. Among the four great ancient civilizations, Chinese culture is also the only one that enjoys an uninterrupted development in the history. In Chinese culture, the classic Chinese painting has retained its unique artistic demonstration, form, and style; playing an ingenious role in the global realm of art. In recent years, with China's rapid economic growth, China's strength has gained mounting attention from the world. China has also accelerated the pace of cultural transmission under the guide of the “peaceful rise” strategy. The promotion of Chinese culture abroad, also referred to as “Chinese culture going out”, has become one wide-reaching strategy of China's peaceful rise.
Many Chinese variations of art have stepped out of China via media and forms, demonstrating the vitality and affinity of China to the world and broadcasting the excellence of Chinese culture. These events and functions play an important role by staying true to the strategy of “Chinese culture going out”. However, due to the ideological distinctions between the Chinese and western cultures, as well as the lack of support and cooperation from the mainstream classes of western society, these events and functions usually fall short of their desired success, despite the extensive planning and dedication that was invested.
The “Chinese Culture & Art International” exhibitions committed to promote the integration of Chinese culture into the West, broadcast the distinctive charm of classic Chinese painting, deepen the communication between the Chinese and Western Culture, and enhance the competitiveness and influence of Chinese arts in the world under the prerequisite that Chinese arts is known and acknowledged by the world.
This is the first time for leading international VIPs to promote the Chinese art project. The exhibitions will be held three to four times a year all around the world, and each exhibition venue will be well-chosen to attract important figures in the Western world to participate. This is a new path for the internationalization of the Chinese art. Our goal is not to just selectively portray certain Chinese arts that peak our interest, but rather an attempt to illustrate the beauty and allure of the Chinese culture as per our first-hand experience.
The first exhibition in New York City lasted for seven days, with the theme of “Man and Nature”, based on the ideology of “the unity of heaven and man” in the Chinese traditional culture. The participating artists included the famous painters such as Mark Cheung, Huang Yue, Li Li, Mr. GaoYongsi, Wu Huan, Zeng Sheng, Yu Xiaochuan, Yu Xiaolun etc., as well as the Chinese silk master, Liao Chunmei.
The Chinese network of North American Television in New York, People.cn, Xinhua News Agency and some other media made follow-up reports to the exhibition.
The opening of this exhibition paved way to the arousal of strong interests within the domestic art society, and since then, the domestic significance has only grown. Cultural Monthly, the state key and core journalists, made an in-depth report via a large scale cover story; while the news channel of CCTV, Hong Kong "Oriental Cultural Week", "Chinese Art News", Artron, Sina, Tencent and other mainstream media have presented their own coverage of the event during key broadcast slots.
"Man & Nature" 2014.10.1—2014.10.7, Germantown, New York, United States of America