Chinese artists make splash in Rome

A show of contemporary Chinese artists took place in the Italian capital on Friday, offering multiple insights into China’s traditional cultural world.

Titled Experiencing China: The Nine Splendid Forms of Chinese Traditional Art, the event was part of an initiative aimed at enhancing knowledge of China in Italy and artistic exchange between the two countries.

Dancers, singers, actors and masters of martial arts disciplines, tea ceremonies and incense rituals alternated on the stage at Rome’s Auditorium Antonianum before a mixed audience of Chinese and Italians.

Chinese Ambassador to Italy Li Ruiyu said in his opening remarks that the two-hour show provided a “classic taste of Chinese traditional arts”.

“This will hopefully help our Italian friends better understand the charm of China’s traditional culture — not only by enjoying its beauty but also by perceiving its search for harmony,” Li said.

The exhibition consisted of nine short artistic performances, which together formed “an integrated exhibition between static and dynamic forms, and vivid, touching images”, the organizers said.

Several accomplished Chinese artists were called in for the event, including legendary dancer and choreographer Chen Ailian, who performed a solo dance inspired by the Chinese classic novel The Dream of the Red Chamber.

Renowned violinist Lyu Siqing — the first Asian musician to win the First Prize at the Paganini Competition in 1987 — delighted the audience with two pieces, the first of which was inspired by the Chinese story Butterfly Lovers, and the second from Paganini’s Sonata in A Major.

Another exhibition involved tai chi masters Zhu Yuanling and Du Xiaoshuai.

The cultural initiative was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Rome along with China’s State Council Information Office, and the Italian Benetton Research and Studies Foundation.