On October 16, the “Watercolor Symphony: International Exchange Exhibition of Chinese Watercolor Art” officially opened at the Berlin Chinese Cultural Center. This event is jointly organized by the Beijing Chinese Cultural Center and the Cultural and Tourism Bureau of Changzhou, with the Liu Haisu Art Museum (Changzhou Art Museum) serving as the main organizer. Over 100 guests from China and Germany attended the opening ceremony.
During the opening ceremony, Counselor Zeng Yingru from the Chinese Embassy in Germany emphasized the longstanding spirit of mutual benefit and collaborative achievement shared by China and Germany. She noted the continuous progress in political, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two countries, and expressed hope that this exhibition would showcase the development and artistic accomplishments of Chinese watercolor painting to the German public, fostering a deeper appreciation of its unique charms and artistic value while promoting cultural diversity globally.
Sun Qinhang, Director of the Berlin Chinese Cultural Center, remarked on the historical journey of watercolor painting, originally rooted in Europe and evolving over 300 years in China. He highlighted how contemporary Chinese watercolor artists have enriched and expanded the techniques and artistic expressions of watercolor, reflecting distinct Chinese cultural characteristics. Sun hopes the exhibition and related lectures would enhance international cooperation in watercolor art and strengthen friendly exchanges between artists from both countries as well as mutual understanding between their peoples.
The director of Liu Haisu Art Museum (Changzhou Art Museum), Li Qing, representing the exhibiting artists, shared that Chinese watercolor integrates the Western focus on light and form with the expressive qualities of Chinese ink painting. He described the displayed works as a unique blend of Eastern and Western artistic dialogue. The exhibition in Berlin not only showcases the diversity of watercolor painting but also serves as a valuable opportunity for interaction with German artists.
The exhibition features 40 outstanding works by contemporary Chinese watercolor artists, including pieces by Li Qing, Wan Ye, and Shi Qian, with themes ranging from landscapes and still lifes to portraits.
That evening, Professor Shi Qian captivated the audience with a lecture titled “Chinese Watercolor and Western Painting,” sparking considerable interest and prompting discussions between the audience and Shi regarding the characteristics and techniques of Chinese and Western painting.
In addition to the exhibition, the Berlin Chinese Cultural Center organized activities for local schoolchildren, including visits to the exhibition and fan painting experiences. The exhibition will be on display at the Berlin Chinese Cultural Center until October 24.
