The East meets W1 exhibtion this weekend, organised by Newland PR, was a resounding success. Over 100 people packed into Art Galleries Europe on Friday afternoon for the Opening. There was a diverse mix of nationalities in attendance, both Chinese and English as well as Canadian, Iranian and French people. Guests were treated to viewing wonderful art works from Chengdu as well as some delicious sichuan nibbles throughout the afternoon.

The exhibition was opened by Ms Wei LUO, deputy secretary-general of the Chengdu Association for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries, who expressed her delight at being in London and spoke passionately about her home town of Chengdu, its rich culture, diversity and the art on display at the exhibition. She thanked the artists for their wonderful art: You can hear a sound clip from the talks here in both Mandarin and English She spoke in Mandarin which was translated into English.

Mr Alistair Michie, Vice Chairman of the 48Group known as the “icebreakers” who have been to promoting relations between the UK and China since 1954 followed on. Mr Mitchie remembers visiting Chengdu extensively and mentioned several major cultural attractions including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System都江堰, Mount Qingcheng青城山, The Giant Buddah at Leshan乐山大佛, Mount Emei峨嵋山 . He also spoke ( in English which was translated into Mandarin by the same clever young person) about his pleasure at attending the event and reminded us that Chengdu is becoming ever closer as British Airways has just announced direct flights from London – Chengdu – London will commence in May 2013.

Four of the artists whose work was on display were in attendance and spent some time painting original artwork in front of the audience. The artisits Xiaoping Lui, Chenji Chen, Hui Li and Hong Liang even let some of the visitors join in and demonstrated their techniques to young and old alike. This was immensely enjoyable for those partaking as well as spectators.

As you can see from the photos many of the youngsters are wearing fabulous Panda hats brought to the exhibition from Chengdu and given out to the young people attending.

It was a very joyous occasion which certainly opened people’s eyes to the delights of Chengdu and encouraged everyone to carry on finding out more about the fascinating city of Chengdu.

Photographs from the Opening Preview are available here on Facebook

Photographs of works from the exhibition are available here on flickr

Twitter results from the day

Stay in touch, learn more and talk about Culture in  Chengdu:

On Facebook

On Twitter

On Pinterest

Quotes from guests on the day:

Simon, France: Showed a vast spectrum of Chinese art reflecting the vibrancy of the culture. I’d never heard of Chengdu before.. I now know more about Chengdu than Beijing and Shanghai put together.

Victoria, London: I’ve long been interested in China and have started to learn Mandarin, seeing this exhibition and hearing so many fascinating things has reall piqued my interest about Chengdu.

Phil, S.Africa: Went to East meets W1 Art Exhibition over the weekend. As a westerner I am used to everything being either “Portrait” or “Landscape”… shoehorned into our digital formats. It was really refreshing to see how a tale unfolds in a Chinese scroll painting. You simply can’t take it all in at once.

Reuben, aged 10 “It was good and really crowded! The paintings were very different to english paintings. I loved wearing the panda hat and having my photo taken!”

Samson, aged 13 “The art work was really unusual to anything I have seen before, joining in with the painting was interesting as the artists had a unique style and the technique was quite easy – all freehand and freeflowing..but I think to be as good as the artists you need lots of practice!”

Given the source of my inspiration it felt appropriate that the panda should be the most prevalent theme for this creation. Sichuan is one of the main habitats for giant pandas and home to one of China’s most famous conservation and research centre for the species in Chengdu.

I wanted to take a slightly different track from traditional Chinese realistic painting. So, rather than the traditional images of bamboo, trees, mountains or stone, I decided the capture the image of two little cute pandas walking and playing in the conservation centre.

I love the way this looks – the neat composition sketch of the painting strengthens the charmingly naïve and likeable nature of the baby pandas – while at the same time expressing concepts of peace and harmony. In terms of the painting method, I adopted the western painting technique, showing a realistic portrayal of the look, feel and movement of the pandas.

Chengdu is a city of many faces. At one at the same time it is full of modern, innovative cultural creativity, but is also immersed with the traditional style of relaxation and tranquillity. The city offers what, to me, is the perfect combination of relaxation and energy, ease and tranquillity. We reflect all this in our artwork – the pursuit of an idyllic rural scene – the desire to be free and carefree, reflecting the people of Chengdu’s basic humanistic nature.

The art that I am displaying at this exhibition all fits into what is called the New Chinese ‘gongbi’ style, focusing deeply on the panda. Gongbi has the longest heritage of all the traditional Chinese painting styles and is regarded as the essence of Chinese traditional culture, preserving our country’s unique artistic characteristics.

The so-called new ‘traditional Chinese Gongbi’ must cover both the past and present and include themes which keep pace with the modern age. In order to achieve our purpose of showing the world authentic Chinese traditional painting, based on the roots and our traditional national character, we also need to extensively study and borrow the ideas of western artwork. In this way we can fully master and employ the modern painting tools and materials to the world of the arts and culture.

Chengdu boasts a long and rich human history and has always been a centre for the arts. As an authentic painter from the city of Chengdu, I am especially proud that my city has become more open and international. Nowadays we have countless opportunities to travel abroad – communicating and exchanging ideas with artists from every country. There are more and more artists from Chengdu opening up art exhibitions in various parts of the world, while we’re also seeing a movement in the other direction with foreign artists visiting Chengdu. It’s a great opportunity to mix, and share one another’s values and working styles – something which remains comparatively rare in other Chinese cities.

Everywhere I went, the air was limpid, fresh and clean. Green plots of grass can be seen all around, thick forests standing upright, a beautiful coast and changeable cloudy skies. That’s not to mention all those enormous well preserved castles and ancient ruins which enlightened me enormously. I was surprised by the ability of the cities to retain their sense of culture and heritage; it truly pays testament to the country’s deep sense of its own history.

When I compare London to Chengdu I can spot many similarities. Both cities have a long and rich cultural history. As capital of England, London embraces and accepts people from all over the world. Likewise, Chengdu used to be the capital of China during the Han and Tang dynasties more than 2000 years ago. Though each of China’s dynasties have faced many problems, both domestically and from foreign aggression, Chengdu has never been affected by such troubles. As such Chengdu today still retains her air of smooth prosperity. Their respective histories have helped both cities in developing a naturally tolerant and moderate view of the world.

A sense of history

Though both of these two cities have experienced rapid development, both Londoners and the people of Chengdu enjoy their leisure and creature comforts. In Chengdu we famously say ‘live slow, grow fast’. In London, meanwhile, people love nothing more than drinking tea or coffee in the sunshine. In Chengdu we also never miss any leisure time and tea is also key to our lifestyle.

London, as a mature metropolitan city, attracts many tourists and business people from all over the world. People flock there for the museums and art galleries which have become important windows for them to learn and exchange cultural values.

Chengdu, meanwhile, is all about walking into one of the world’s most ecological garden cities. Chengdu’s culture of heritage and tradition and the reignition of the culture industrial project will provide an important, stable foundation to help the city become a vital base for cultural arts going forward.

However, there are also differences between London and Chengdu. While London’s architecture retains its old heritage and character, Chengdu city is rapidly developed in a way which shows a more modern face to the world.

My travels and my art

I am a Chinese artist and, while I have lived in many different countries and cities and they inspire me in different ways, I still create art using my own, very Chinese, skills. The idea of portraying the buildings and sights of Europe in the Chinese water painting style might seem a little crazy, but it was a challenge I wanted to take on.

I believe the most important quality of an artist is to be creative not conservative. I normally attempt to face new challenges with new concepts and ideas. That is the core for any artist in the creative process. Therefore I always wanted to challenge myself to paint a view of England long style in Chinese painting form.

Because of the use of long paper, doing this was very difficult and restricting. However, I was persistent in aiming to complete this painting within one year.

The paintings in the Chengdu art exhibition in London represent only a third of the whole painting; the total length of the whole painting is around 20 meters and covered sightseeing in Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, the Lake District, Yorkshire and Whitby. Though it’s not perfect yet I am content by seeing the inkling of a new creative style of painting.

Through the process of creating art I have noticed some important contrasts between Chinese water painting and oil painting.

Chinese painting is the essence of traditional Chinese culture, which has been developed through a series of completed theory and techniques. However, in the last 30 years, the minds of artists have changed following Chinese reform and a more open exchange of ideas with the rest of the world. As a result, Chinese painting has been transformed.

Secondly, the change to a greater selection of painting materials brought by technological development makes the painting style more extensive and interesting. Subsequently, the techniques and skills of Chinese paintings have been altered to some extent.

We know that the different types of painting – oil painting and Chinese water painting can borrow and learn from each other. Apart from the basic painting techniques, there are many ways of approach which can be complementary between Chinese water painting and oil painting such as the touch, the line and the surface, the structural relationship and so on.

So, how do we bring Chinese painting to the world and let the world know about real Chinese culture? Being unreconstructed of mind or simply mimicking is not a good idea. We need to expand the romance and richness of the expressive force on the basic Chinese painting skills.

Musings of my British Travels represents only my own opinion and may not represent the universality of Chinese water painting. However it at least walks the road of creativity of the Chinese arts.

In Chinese culture, the peony has come to be seen as a symbol of good fortune. In particular, Peonies with Asian Paradise Flycatcher are implicitly linked to wealth, safety and long life. So, unsurprisingly, I truly love painting the peony.

Most of the peony artworks I create are made with wonder stone and show the peony’s characteristic vitality and wildness, while not losing its inherent nature of elegance and class.

The natural world is incredibly important to me. Most of my work will focus on a flower, a piece of grass animal or a bird. I love highlighting the harmony between the flowers, animals and the birds and in doing so, I feel art can bring the natural garden scene to life in front of our eyes.

My favourite themes to use are bold peonies, wisteria parrot, oriole with weeping willow, a lotus in the pond with halcyon, an eagle with a solid unbending pine tree or a green bamboo with a returning sparrow.

However, my paintings can do nothing more than show the tip of the iceberg in terms of Chengdu city’s innate grace and charm. The city has an incredibly rich cultural heritage, especially when it comes to the flower and bird artwork which flourished during the Tang dynasty.

Chinese paintings do much more than just show off their contemporary style, but they also combine the inner spirits of nationality and Chinese traditional culture together with the simple beauty of nature.

Chengdu’s characteristic landscape, together with its people, creates a feeling of pure beauty, gentleness, skillfulness and harmony.

While I draw heavily on tradition and classical arts, I also believe art should always be evolving and moving forward. In general my aim is to convey the feeling of one flower, one bird – this all has its own special sense thanks to Chengdu’s scenery.

To me, the inspiration of artistic creation is inseparable from the artist’s observance, experience and sensation of nature and society. Only by accumulating the experience of daily life can the inspiration spring out of you when you create art.

I’m very keen to make sure that my paintings, mixing green bamboo with peony, wisteria and so on – with all their meanings in Chinese traditional culture – can be understood by many different audiences. I want them to be enjoyed not just by art experts but by everyone.

Since the ancient age, Chengdu has always embraced many different cultures from around the world, with an open and tolerant mind. There are many artists from other countries coming to learn, exchange views or organise art exhibitions. For us in Chengdu the foreign arts have made a tremendous impact.

There is a saying: ‘belonging to the national, belonging to the world’. Though in terms of selection of the source and expression of technique, Chinese painting is different from oil painting, the aesthetic value is however, I believe, nearly the same. The really good works of art are those which give the same feeling to people, whether they describe themselves as being interested in art or not.

To celebrate Chinese New Year  the ‘East Meets W1’ Art Ehibition will bring the colour and beauty of China’s Sichuan Province to London’s west end.

Running from 15th to 17th February at Art Galleries Europe London Gallery, the exhibition will showcase seven of the region’s leading artists, giving Londoners an insight into modern interpretations of ‘Sichuan Style Art’ and provide an opportunity to participate in creating artwork with the artists plus win some beautiful prints of the artists work.

Known as China’s ‘Kingdom of Heaven’, Sichuan Province is famous for its staggering beauty, spicy food, and rich culture. Its capital city, Chengdu, is one of the most prosperous in China thanks to a vibrant technology sector and booming tourism trade.

However, alongside the gleaming skyscrapers, Chengdu has a rich tradition of literature and art. Throughout its history, this beautiful city has been a meeting point for some of China’s greatest writers and artists.

Andrew Methven Chief Executive of event organisers Newland PR commented:
“The art on display here is exceptional and a unique insight into one of China’s most beautiful and culturally rich regions.”

Among the featured artists will be Liu Xiaoping whose ‘National Treasure Panda’ painting celebrates Sichuan’s status as a centre for conservation. Meanwhile, the work of award winning artist Li Hui showcases the beautiful landscape of Sichuan.

The exhibition will also provide a fascinating window into the culture of Chinese art and calligraphy. Calligraphy is often written as a poem and is added to Chinese paintings of landscapes or portraits of flowers adding extra depth.

The exhibition begins on 15th February with an opening ceremony where guests will have a unique opportunity to make art with the artists. Throughout the weekend visitors will not only have a chance to enjoy the work of the seven featured artists but learn more about the culture of Chengdu with an infographic display.

“It promises be a great event,” Andrew Methven adds. “Having some of Sichuan’s finest artists gathered in London is a rare treat, and the fact that they will be making art together with guests at the opening ceremony is a special opportunity indeed.”

East Meets W1 is organised by Newland PR and hosted by the Chengdu Association for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries. You can find out more at www.culturechengdu.com

You can also join the discussion on http://www.facebook.com/CultureChengdu where you’ll have a chance to see what’s on, discuss the art and take part in a number of competitions. Those who ‘like’ the http://www.facebook.com/CultureChengdu will have a chance win prizes such as Chengdu panda prints and tickets for a once in a lifetime trip out to Chengdu.

For details and to enter all competions please go to  http://www.culturechengdu.com/competitions

Notes to editors:
For more information email: vivian@newlandpr.com or call 0208 614 4770.
Website: www.culturechengdu.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CultureChengdu

When first came to the UK I was inspired by the natural beauty, history and culture of the British towns, cities and the countryside. I experimented with using Chinese painting techniques and materials to encapsulate the essence of places such as Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, the Lake District, Yorkshire and Whitby. With ink and colour on Chinese scroll I aimed to capture the essence of these characteristically British landscapes. Winter 2012, Chengdu, Western District Whitby Abbey is full of unusual colours as it stands above the small town atop one hundred and ninety-nine steps. And even though the walls are old and dilapidated you can see inscription of the year clearly. I found Yorkshire a beautiful place. One would forget that world famous writer Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, when on the ground, elegant literature gives me an unusual view of searching Yorkshire for that same view, architecture of individual colours and shape that makes people gasp in admiration. Coming to the places of the most beautiful English scenery I know the lake district is this kind of enchanting place, star studded mountain ranges and deep lakes, the eye cannot take it all in. writing has limits I can only leave my impression in a painting, maybe this is the best memory.

Chengdu has long been a destination for learned poets and artists of China to gather.  Some of China’s most important literature comes from Chengdu. Li Bai and Su Shi, the most eminent poets of the Tang and Song Dynasties and the great poet Du Fu, made their homes here.  It also hosts very strong Buddhist and Taoist cultures.

Chengdu also has some other fascinating claims to fame. Qiong lai huo jing was one of the earliest spots to tap natural gas. Shuijing fang is where the oldest ancient wine making took place and the Dujiangyan irrigation structure, built in 256BC  has the longest history of water conservation in the world.

It is a city where the modern and traditional are beautiful juxtaposed. On the one hand, Chengdu has blossomed in terms of affluence and investment; many skyscrapers  dominate the skyline. But nestled amongst this development the traditional wooden Chinese architecture still exists.

The contemporary lifestyle in Chengdu is another reason it has been voted the top tourist destination in China for the last three years. It has abundant street life – markets and street hawkers fill the streets dealing in everything you could possibly imagine, from snakes and snails to fortunes and foot scrubs. There are thousands of tea houses dotted about the city… twice as many as in Shanghai, with half the population1 Mahjong is played everywhere and it is the home of the much famed Sichuan cooking.

Magnificent architecture and features such as Tianfu square and the ancient fortress wall built in the Qing Dynasty also make it very popular.

As part of our Chinese New Year celebrations we at Culture Chendgu want to share the free gift of inspiration that Chengdu is a daily reminder of.

East meets W1 is an art exhibition that brings a deep insight into this culturally rich region through traditional and modern art. Seven artists will be showcasing their work at Art Galleries Europe in central London from 15-17th February 2013.

Find out about our competitions to Win Flights to Chengdu, Win Signed Printed Artwork and Win tickets to take part in Creating Art with Chengdu Artists