At 3:00 pm on March 18, 2017, co-organized by the China Cultural Center in Bangkok, Network Center of International Cultural Exchange (NICE), the Silk Road Art Research Coordinative Innovation Center at CAFA, the exhibition entitled “Sculpture with Chinese Color – Research and Creation of Chinese Ancient Color Sculpture” was successfully opened at the China Cultural Center in Bangkok. Honored guests including Chen Jiang, Cultural Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Sun Hongpei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Nitaya Kanokmongkol, Director of the National Gallery of Thailand, Amrit Chusuwan, Dean of the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University, Tai Yusen, Senior Advisor of China Cultural Center, Luo Zongzheng, Chairman of the Thai Association of Chinese Teachers, Wu Lingping, Chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Association, Kang Dan, Chairman of the Liaoning General Association of Commerce in Thailand, Yue Jieqiong, Director of the Silk Road Art Research Coordinative Innovation Center at CAFA and the exhibition director, curator of this exhibition Zhang Wei, Deputy Director of the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, curator Ouyang Ningming, artist representatives Yang Jing, Liang Yuan as well as teachers and students from Bangkok University, Silpakorn University as well as the Confucius Institute at Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, together with over 100 guests from Chinese institutions in Bangkok attended the opening ceremony. And the opening ceremony was chaired by Zhang Bo, Deputy Director of the Bangkok Chinese Cultural Center.

Chen Jiang, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, introduced the leading role of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in art education and fine arts creation to the audience and he affirmed the important role of the China Cultural Center in the cultural communications between China and Thailand. Nitaya Kanokmongkol, Director of the National Gallery of Thailand, introduced in her speech the latest archaeological discoveries about the figurines from the Chinese Han Dynasty, and the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor of Qin, which reflected their continued concern for Chinese culture. She believed that this exhibition brought great inspiration, to make them rethink the protection of their heritage and research of their national culture. Amrit Chusuwan, Dean of the Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University, mentioned in his speech that thanks to such a high-level exhibition brought by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, they hope to exchange ideas with the Central Academy of Fine Arts on the issue of exploring research of traditional cultures and introduce it to inspire an interest in research and contemporary creation of Thai Traditional art. Sun Hongpei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts interpreted the theme of “Sculpture with Chinese Color” written by Fan Di’an, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. “Chinese” represents the “Chinese nation” and at the same time it means “gorgeous”; “color” is the abbreviation of “all of colors”, it has the meaning of “rich and colorful”. “Sculpture with Chinese Color” is one of the most representative art forms in Chinese civilization, and there are ancient classic drawings and works in this exhibition that reflect the excavation and research of traditions by artists while contemporary artworks reflect the heritage and innovation of contemporary artists. On behalf of the organizers, Sun Hongpei conveyed thanks to the Cultural Affairs Department, Chinese Embassy in Thailand, the People’s Government of Gaoping City, Shanxi Province, and media supporters including Magazine “Chinese and Foreign Cultural Exchanges,” Chinaculture.org, artron.net and Art China. Meanwhile, he expressed his gratitude to the support from various institutions in Thailand as well as his deep wishes for the ever-lasting friendship between China and Thailand, profound prospects for the future development in the China Cultural Center, and then he announced the opening of the exhibition.

Subsequently, Zhang Wei, Deputy Director of the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and Amrit Chusuwan, Dean of the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University as representatives from both schools, signed a memorandum of cooperation, witnessed by the honored guests attending the opening ceremony, which would facilitate the promotion of Sino-Thai exchange in culture and art as well as the friendship between the two countries.

The art of Chinese traditional color sculpture has occupied an important position in the history of Chinese sculptures and it is an important representative of ancient Chinese plastic arts. The exhibition presents 15 selected Chinese traditional color sculptures, showcasing both creative ideas and expressive techniques of traditional color sculpture, together with experiments in the organic combination of contemporary technique and traditional concepts, presentation of the ancient and modern Chinese color sculpture with the micro-spray photos and videos on the techniques of research and achievements in the protection of Chinese color sculpture, in an extracted way it introduces the current situation of inheritance and the development of traditional color sculpture techniques in China.

The audience responded enthusiastically and they praised the exhibition as it brought a unique visual impact as well as profound thinking of the local cultural heritage research.

The Chinese media based in Thailand, The New Chinese Daily News, Asian Journal, Tong Hua Daily as well as reporters from the China News Network attended the opening ceremony.

Text by Yue Jieqiong, translated and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO.

Photo by Yang Jing and Liang Yuan