(August 23, 2019, Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik)
Honourable Minister of Culture Mrs. Nina Obuljen-Koržinek,
Honourable State Secretary of Ministry of Tourism Mr. Frano Matušić,
Honourable Assistant Minister of Culture Mrs. Iva Hraste-Sočo,
Honourable Mayor of Dubrovnik Mr. Mato Franković,
Dear Vice President of China National Academy of Painting Mr. Ji Lianbin,
Dear Director of Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik Mr. Tonko Smokvina,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening!
It gives me great pleasure to attend the opening ceremony of "Enthusiasm for Ink Wash Painting, the China National Academy of Painting's Ink Wash Painting Art Exhibition". First of all, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to this great event and warmest welcome to all the friends present here tonight. In particular I wish to express my appreciation to the Croatian Ministry of Culture, City of Dubrovnik and the Museum of Modern Art Dubrovnik for the great support for this exhibition.
This is the first time that contemporary Chinese ink wash painting works to be exhibited on such a large scale in Croatia. The exhibition displays 60 pieces of contemporary ink wash paintings by the outstanding artists of the China National Academy of Painting in recent years. Ink wash painting, with more than 2000 years history, is regarded as the pearl of the Chinese traditional culture and and a lighthouse of the world arts history. Through the mixture and interaction of water, ink and paper, the external nature and internal soul will blend together, which indicates the integration of unique Oriental aesthetic tastes and philosophical thoughts. We hope the Croatian people will enjoy exhibition, know more about and feel the charm of the contemporary Chinese ink wash painting art, explore the unique spiritual world of the Orient, and further understand as well as appreciate Chinese culture and civilization which has been uninterrupted for more than 5000 years.
This exhibition is an important part of the programmes of the Year of Culture and Tourism between China and Croatia, which was launched by Croatian Prime Minister Plenković and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang when he paid his official visit to Croatia and attended the 8th Summit of Heads of Governments of China and Central and Eastern European Countries this April. Since the beginning of this year, a variety of culture and tourism events and activities have been held. This week, the Ivan Goran Kovačić Folk Ensemble is performing in China, introducing Croatian folk art to the Chinese people. Next month, Chinese Zhao Liang ART Modern Dance Troupe will perform in Zagreb Youth Theatre.
Although China and Croatia are apart by thousands of miles, the two peoples and two countries have enjoyed long-time traditional friendship. Our comprehensive cooperative partnership has entered its 14th anniversary. Our bilateral relationship based on mutual respect and equality has maintained a strong momentum of development, becoming a role model for friendly relations between countries with different sizes, national conditions and social systems. Currently China is working together with Croatia to construct Belt and Road which is a road of connectivity of not only about policy, infrastructure, trade, financing, but also very importantly about people to people. National relationship is based on the affection of the peoples. Cultural exchanges play a very important role in promotion of exchange, mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples. Both China and Croatia are rich with splendid cultural heritages. The cultural cooperation has always been an important part of our bilateral relations. I strongly believe that to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples through cultural exchange is an indispensable approach to build our diamond-like friendship.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In 7 decades, China has developed from a nation that suffered from war trauma, weakness and poverty, into the world's second largest economy, the largest manufacturing country, the largest country in terms of goods trade, the second largest consumer of goods. The earth-shaking changes in China's economic and social fields have also provided momentum for the vigorous development of art and culture. This exhibition not only bears the traditional Chinese culture, but also shows the audience an increasingly open, inclusive and confident China. I hope that everyone can take this opportunity to feel the evolution and progress of contemporary Chinese culture.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In this exhibition, apart from works on China's landscapes and local customs, the Academy has also prepared a landscape painting of Dubrovnik, I hope you like it. Let us linger in the ocean of art on this beautiful night, enjoy the talk about our friendship and cooperation, and work together to promote a better tomorrow for our bilateral relations!
Finally, I wish this exhibition a great success! Thank you!