A visitor explores the exhibition in Shenzhen Photo: Courtesy of MOCAUP

 
China Pavilion kicks off First Tour Exhibition 

China's national pavilion at the 59th Venice International Art Exhibition kicked off its First Tour Exhibition on Saturday at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning (MOCAUP) in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province. 

With the theme "Yuan-Jing," or "Meta-Scape," the China Pavilion featured the works of Liu Jiayu, Wang Yuyang, Xu Lei and the AT Group. The exhibition will display five representative works by these artists, condensing the remarkable international performances of these outstanding Chinese artists and demonstrating their diverse artistic language and international perspective.

"Meta-Scape" is premised on the contemporary human condition of "human-technology-nature," using jing (Lit: boundary) as one of the key concepts to interpret and reveal the ethos of traditional Chinese culture. Additionally, provided with the cultural perspective of retrospection and transcendence belonging to "meta" (yuan in Chinese), Meta-Scape showcases the internal impetus and intellectual fruit of the Chinese people derived from the historical process of understanding and constructing the world. 

Through adopting various artistic methods of "making scapes" and identifying correlations between impact and place, fact and fiction, and spirituality and objectivity, the artists have established meaningful new media art practices. The resulting artworks ponder the collective future of all human beings, echoing the past of civilizations in a brand new era.

The Venice International Art Exhibition, also known as the Venice Biennale, brought together 213 artists from 58 countries and regions. 

'The Count of Monte Cristo' at NCPA

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) will kick off its 2023 Drama Festival with the drama The Count of Monte Cristo on Tuesday.

In 1846, French writer Alexandre Dumas completed the serialization of his novel The Count of Monte Cristo, which tells the story of a young and promising first mate named Edmond Dantès on the Pharaoh cargo ship who was once imprisoned in the Château d'If after being framed. With the help of a kind priest, he escapes from prison and sets off to avenge himself as the Count of Monte Cristo. This legendary work has been loved by readers and widely circulated since its publication. Edmond Dantès' revenge story is interlocking and fascinating. In the end, the Count of Monte Cristo completes his own redemption and conveys human warmth.

The NCPA drama was written by playwright Yu Rongjun, based on Dumas's novel. Directed by Wang Xiaoying, it will be staged until Sunday.