Postcards from China exhibition inspires artistic dialogue in Sydney

The second China-Australia Dialogue Exhibition, titled “Postcards from China: An Artistic Odyssey”, opened at the China Cultural Centre in Sydney on Aug 28,  attracting around 110 attendees from the cultural, artistic and media sectors of the two countries.

Jointly organized by the center, the Australian Watercolor Institute and Guangxi Arts University, the exhibition features 40 works by 10 Chinese and Australian artists which explore themes of cultural fusion and contemporary dialogue.

Wang Shuyu, cultural counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney, highlighted art’s unique power in transcending borders and fostering bilateral friendship.

“These creations are not merely paintings on paper, they’re like postcards carrying stories, dreams and hopes between our nations,” she said.

David van Nunen, president of the Australian Watercolor Institute, emphasized the exhibition’s role in showcasing the outcomes of a visit by Australian artists to China which lasted from August last year to July this year.

“We are committed to advancing cross-cultural exchanges and we look forward to deeper collaboration with China to open up more space for artistic creation and dialogue,” he said.

Jackie Menzies, president of the Australian Asian Art Association, said the visits of Chinese and Australian artists to each other’s countries and their collaborations have enriched creative practices and promoted cross-cultural dialogue.

The opening ceremony featured a captivating performance of guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither) solo High Mountains and Flowing Water, one of China’s 10 great ancient melodies, and Eugène Ysaye's Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 27, symbolizing cultural harmony.

On August 29, the center held a lecture on the development and artistic style of the Lijiang Painting School, a contemporary Chinese art movement and artists' group originating in Guangxi province.

The exhibition, which is supported by Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region’s department of culture and tourism, runs until Sept 30.

Yang Runyu contributed to this story.