Though none of 53 members of the Chinese artists troupe comprising singers, painters, aerobic gymnasts, food experts, and kite and dough artists at the Pak-China Friendship Centre could speak English but the smiles on their faces seemed to say ‘Pak-China friendship is higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, and sweeter than honey’.
Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and China Culture Heritage Foundation (CCHF) arranged a Chinese Exhibition titled ‘Oriental Charm’ and the screening of documentaries and films at Pak–China Friendship Centre marking the Pak-China Friendship year 2011.
Diplomats, politicians, bureaucrats, students, artists and a number of art lovers attended the inaugural program. Chinese ambassador Liu Jian and PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir inaugurated the 5 day cultural festival. Peng Xiaoping, Lin Aixing, Tie Zhi Lu, and Xu Ye Zheng who put up stalls inside the complex attracted large crowd as did 50 paintings of eight artists including Guo Mei Zong, Zhao Gang, Niue Yusheng, Geng Ying, Zhuang Shouhong, Qiu Zhaomins, Wen Ying, and Yong Xiukun which showcase the rich cultural innovations and heritage on canvas.
Geng Ying, a daughter of a senior proletarian revolutionary and veteran artist attributes her indomitable character and courageous will to the influence of her older generation. Years of artistic experience have made her forge an indissoluble bond with Chinese culture, she says. “Chinese culture is both extensive and profound. It is China’s civilisation that has entrusted me to follow the qualities of self-confidence, tolerance, a combination of toughness and gentleness, and broadmindedness,” said Ying while talking about protection of China’s cultural heritage.
The inner painter, Xu Ye Zheng, who has been painting this ‘inner art’ for the 32 years, learnt this art from Ye Qi, the son of a Chinese inner painting master. By inheriting and innovating traditional inner painting skills, she contributed a lot to the conservation of this art. Since 1986, her work has also been showcased in many Chinese folk art shows around the world. Beijing Traditional Toys Research Institute Vice Secretary Tie Zhi Lu, also an artist, acquired his skills of hand made kites and toys from a Beijing Kite Master, Baoxiang, in 1984.
Lu received wide recognitions around the world by designing kites for a famous Chinese movie in June 2001. He was invited by Pakistani National Heritage Research Institute to attend ‘Festival of Silk Road’. He has travelled extensively all over the world. Peng Xiaoping became famous in the field of art as a master of dough modeling. His skills in dough modeling originate from various arts- ancient and modern. Absorbing strong points from others, he has established a new and special school in arts.
Melted in the dough fingers of Peng, are the western painting and sculpting skills as they handle the human physique and the scientific rules of fluoroscopy and rich Chinese flavours as well. His nifty art covers various subjects. On the occasion, he made a number of art pieces with dough within a few seconds. Addressing on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Liu Jian said China and Pakistan were two countries with long and brilliant history of civilisation and through cultural exchange both had developed mutual understanding.
“History has witnessed the dynamic cultural interactions between China and Pakistan. In the old days, we were linked by the Silk Road. In China’s Tang dynasty, Hsuan-tsang, an eminent monk, studied Buddhism in Taxila and now, cultural and individual contact has maintained the momentum of fast development between the two nations,” Jian said. Nasir said on the occasion said that it is a valuable opportunity for Pakistanis to become acquainted with the culture, economic life, and history of a close neighbour and long-standing friend, China.
“This festival is a window from China to let us witness its explosive development and its millennium old fascinating cultural values. It provides opportunities of mutual understanding and sharing of views and news pertaining to urban and rural development,” Nasir said. On the occasion, a documentary film made by CCHF was also screened.
