KUCHING: The 2019 Belt and Road Sarawak Beijing Joint Art Exhibition opens at Saradise Gallery, Titanium Tower Brighton Square here.
The eight-day exhibition which began on Sept 27 features 50 artworks by renowned artists — Sim Chiap Hin, Sarawak Artists Society founder Bong Choo Chew, 12th Council of the Kuching Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Research Association president Sim Chiap Peng and Sarawak Artists Society vice president Gerald Goh Teck Joo .
Chinese painter Professor Niu Zhigao who is also president of China Great Land Calligraphy Institute is showcasing 22 art pieces at the exhibition.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah declared open the exhibition yesterday.
He said the exhibition was another milestone in the collaboration between China and Sarawak as well as Malaysia.
“Talking about art, it goes beyond borders, race and religion and all of us do have it in ourselves to appreciate it.
“Thus, I am happy and encouraged that Kuchingites are getting much more interested in such programmes.
“In the past year or two, several art exhibitions or culture related programmes have seen an increasing interest among members of the public which indicates their appreciation for the artworks of local and international artists,” he said.
People’s Republic of China Consul-General Cheng Guangzhong shared that culture is the soul of a nation while painting and calligraphy is a cultural treasure and an ingenious combination of aesthetic feeling and inspiration.
“The Chinese painting and calligraphy have a long history as the Chinese civilisation. Apart from that, Sarawak’s ethnic groups are also rich in cultural resources as well as painting and calligraphy treasures.
“Therefore, the cultural exchanges and mutual learning in painting and calligraphy between China and Sarawak have great potential and bright prospects,” he said.
Also present were Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang and Saradise Gallery chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Chris Chung.
