Special Exhibition of ROK Painters Held in Chongqing Promoting Friendship Between China and the Republic of Korea Through Cultural Exchanges

By Liu Dingrui

From March 30 to April 30， the China-ROK Cultural Exchange Exhibition jointly -- the Special Exhibition of ROK Painters was held in the Chongqing （Xiyong） Base for International Cultural Trade. Hong Art Museum and Paradox Avenue co-host this exhibition to strengthen the exchange and dialogue between modern and contemporary painting artists in China and ROK. Nearly 70 works by four ROK artists including Kim Mooho， Kim Ilhae， Park Hosun， and Lee Jeongshik were exhibited. The Special Exhibition has promoted cultural and artistic exchanges and development between the two countries and enriched Chongqings supply of international cultural offerings for consumers， thus helping Chongqing become a center for international consumption.

The opening ceremony was attended by leaders from the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Shapingba District Committee， Chongqing Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone Administration， Xiyong Customs， Chongqing Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment， Consulate-General of the Republic of Korea in Chengdu， Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency （KOTRA）， Korea-China Cultural Association， Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator Chongqing， companies with ROK investments in Chongqing such as SK Hynix and Woori Bank China， artists， and heads of cultural and art institutions.

Lee Kwang Ho， Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Chengdu said that cultural exchanges and cooperation are important to the ROK-China strategic partnership. They play an irreplaceable role in enhancing mutual understanding between peoples and increasing the value of the ROK-China relationship. In the 30 years of the diplomatic relationship， cultural exchanges and cooperation have brought many highlights to the advancement of ROK-China relations. The communication and cooperation of culture and art – a universal language – have gone beyond the cultural industry itself and can enhance mutual understanding， improve peoples cohesion， and promote friendly relations. He hoped that this event could serve as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries， especially between the teenagers.

According to Zhang Hang， curator and head of Hong Art Museum， the works of four ROK artists in this exhibition embody both the philosophy of nature from the East and abstract art forms from the West. These works are influential in ROK and recognized by artists and art institutions in China.

At the opening ceremony， Hong Art Museum and Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator signed the China-ROK strategic cooperation agreement on culture， tourism， economy， and trade. Relying on Chongqing （Xiyong） Base for International Cultural Trade and Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Hub Mega-Region， both sides will pool together resources in China and ROK， such as industrial chains， businesses， and talent. Hong Art Museum and Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator will serve as a bridge to promote exchanges and cooperation between ROK and Chongqing.

Hong Art Museum is the third in China after Beijing and Shanghai， and the first in Western China as a new international culture and trade services platform with a full range of functions and complete supporting facilities. It has held the third Chongqing International Modern and Contemporary Art Exhibition， and “Belt and Road” international culture promotion activities in countries like China， Russia， and France.

Photo/The Hosts

Translation/Gao Xiang， Yang Zeyun， and Niu Kexin