Art show aims to foster peace

ATHENS — The world may currently be in a constant state of flux and developing at a rapid pace, but it means nothing without peace. That is the message that representatives of the China Artists Association were looking to convey at the inauguration of an exhibition entitled Art and Peace.

The exhibition, which invites contemporary artists from China to display work that formed part of the project “Journey of Chinese art in the world”, opened on May 10 at the State Museum of Contemporary Art in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.

The exhibition, launched in 2016, has already been successfully held in Denmark, Italy, Finland, Georgia and at the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels.

“Art and peace, the theme of the exhibition, responds to the relationship of our countries, because we would like to further tighten our bilateral relations with Greece,” Xu Li, vice president of China Artists Association, is reported as saying. “Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we would also like to show the whole world our tradition.”

The exhibition, hosted following Greece’s participation in the Beijing Contemporary Art Biennale in 2017, aims to use the language of Chinese contemporary art to tell stories about harmony and to bring comfort to those who have suffered as a result of violence around the world, the organizers explained.

With over 40 works of different styles, shapes and forms, the exhibition offers a vivid picture of contemporary art in China, while highlighting the Chinese value that “harmony is precious”, and encourages the constant pursuit of peace and well-being.

“This exhibition, as well as the communication we have with the Chinese Artists Association, is a very good opportunity, because I think cooperation will not end here,” Maria Tsantsan-oglou, director of Thessaloniki’s State Museum of Contemporary Art, says.

The exhibition will run through Sunday.