Melbourne, Australia Photo: VCG

The 2022 "China Today" Arts Week was launched in Australia's Melbourne on Thursday in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia.

Co-hosted by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Chinese Embassy in Australia and the Consulate-General of China in Melbourne, the arts week runs till November 10 in the Pacific Arts Center. It features the exhibition of ceramic artworks from East China's Jiangxi Province, and paintings and prints from Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The 50 items from Jingdezhen, a world-famous porcelain town in Jiangxi, were created by three generations of intangible cultural heritage inheritors. Visitors can not only find vases in traditional Chinese styles and colors, but also see porcelain panels with paintings depicting scenes of classic stories and an idyllic life.

The 39 works chosen from traditional Chinese paintings, oil paintings, prints, watercolors and other forms of art showed the scenery of Northeast China as well as people's life there.

One of the paintings showed the life of a family from the local Oroqen ethnic minority dressed in traditional robes, while in another, an iconic old tractor represents the industrial tradition of the area.

Song Yanqun, minister-counselor of culture at the Chinese Embassy in Australia, told the Xinhua News Agency at the opening ceremony on Thursday that they had been preparing for the exhibition since 2021.

"It is our hope that the event can help promote Chinese culture overseas in Australia," he said.

"Art is a bridge connecting people. It is a common language spoken by people from different countries," Song continued. 

"We would like to see more visitors coming to the exhibition and becoming fascinated with Chinese culture. We also hope that the event can add luster to celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries."

Lynley Crosswell, CEO and director of Museums Victoria, said in her address at the opening ceremony that she had been to different cities in China multiple times.

"I have experienced firsthand the beauty and magnificence of Chinese art and culture," she said. 

"What we know as we are here today is these experiences of art and culture connect us beyond time, culture and geographical divides."

"We look forward to continuing to build and strengthen our cultural ties with China," she added. 

"Our connection has a long history, and more importantly, an exciting future."

Robin Matthews, former national president of the Australia China Friendship Society, was impressed by the exhibits. Having studied ceramic design in university herself, Matthews described the minute details of the works, the glazing and the firing as "extraordinary."

"The traditional ones are very nice but there are also modern ones with abstract design," she said. 

"I also like the blue-and-white wares as well."

She noted that it was very important to commemorate the 50th anniversary. 

"To engage and have people-to-people relationship I think is very important to create understanding," she said, "understanding between one another leads to greater peace throughout the world."

She believed that people should not only look back at all the achievements during the past, but also "look forward to the next 50 years." 

The exhibition will later be taken to Adelaide in South Australia. 

Xinhua