-The Journey to Green Mountains – Shizuoka Special Exhibition of Works by Chinese and Japanese Artists on the Road to Tang Poetry- opens

On October 23, the “Endless Green Mountains: A Special Exhibition of Chinese and Japanese Artists Along the Tang Poetry Road” officially opened in Shizuoka, Japan. The exhibition features over 100 art pieces created by more than 80 Chinese and Japanese artists, including members of the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Historical and Cultural Research and professors from the China Academy of Art, as well as artists from Shizuoka and Tokyo Art Universities.

Zhejiang Province is renowned for its picturesque scenery, which has historically attracted poets and scholars seeking inspiration. Over 1,000 years ago, during the Tang Dynasty, more than 400 poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, and Bai Juyi composed over 2,000 celebrated poems while exploring Zhejiang, thereby creating a lasting legacy known as the Tang Poetry Road.

In a video address, Lu Shan, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, highlighted that the participating artists from both countries have centered their work around the theme “Crossing Mountains and Seas.” Through innovative art forms that blend ancient and modern styles, they vividly interpret the beauty, depth, and philosophical undertones of classic poetry. This, he hopes, will resonate emotionally with people from both nations and foster a deeper connection, providing lasting positive energy to the Sino-Japanese friendship and enhancing collaboration between Zhejiang and Shizuoka.

Zhejiang Province and Shizuoka Prefecture established a friendship agreement in 1982, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their cooperative relationship. Over the past 40 years, the two regions have maintained close connections, creating many success stories of collaboration.

Lu Weili, Deputy Secretary-General of the Zhejiang Provincial Government, shared that in 2020, the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Historical and Cultural Research and the China Academy of Art launched the “Endless Green Mountains: Tang Poetry Road Art Exhibition.” This initiative has already held three sessions, most notably the third exhibition in November 2022 in Hangzhou, which continued the narrative of an enduring cultural exchange between China and Japan.

The current exhibition centers around three core elements: “Crossing,” “Appreciating,” and “Blending.” It showcases a fusion of traditional and contemporary art forms, including Chinese paintings, oil paintings, calligraphy, prints, Qing porcelain, sculptures, and multimedia, to create “New Tang Poetry” that bridges the gap between tradition and modernity. Additionally, it features a dedicated display on Zhejiang’s historical classic industries.

The concept of “Blending” emphasizes the ideal of harmonious coexistence and the interplay of emotions and ideas, with the aim of invigorating Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges through art.

Noteworthy works in the exhibition include a 16-meter scroll depicting the Tang Poetry Road, which serves as the centerpiece. This scroll integrates the cultural heritage of the poetry road with the region’s historical and cultural elements, using video imagery to lead viewers along the path that poets once traveled. It also incorporates elements from Zhejiang’s historical classic industries to promote a diverse dissemination of local cultural heritage.

Jiang Yufeng, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, expressed that the collaboration between the artists from both nations illustrates the deep historical and cultural connections between China and Japan. He hopes that this exhibition will further facilitate cultural exchanges, strengthen the relationship between Zhejiang and Shizuoka, and help tell the story of mutual benefits and cooperation.

The exhibition is jointly hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism, the Zhejiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, the China Academy of Art, the Shizuoka-Fukui Affairs Bureau, and the Shizuoka Sino-Japanese Friendship Association. It will run from October 23 to 29, with media support from China News Service’s Zhejiang branch.