Date：2018-12-07The 1st TECFA (Alexandria Station) Ended Successfully

Poster of the exhibition

The sum-up meeting of the International Tour Exhibition of Chinese Traditional Fine Arts - Alexandria Station (“TECFA” for short in the following text), “Culture across Ancient and Modern - Exhibition of Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage in Daily Life” was successfully held on November 19th in Shanghai Art Collection Museum, which served as an excellent conclusion of the exhibition. It took nearly one year from the preparation, organization to the successful completion.

“The Belt and Road” initiative advocated by Chinese President Xi Jinping has received positive responses from countries around the world. Shanghai and Alexandria are sister cities. They have maintained close connection with each other for a long time since the establishment of sistership. In August 2017, Mr. Mohamed Sultan, Governor of Alexandria of the Arab Republic of Egypt, paid a visit to Shanghai at the invitation of Mr. Yong Ying, Mayor of Shanghai. Both sides reached consensus to strengthen the cultural and economic exchanges between two cities. In the meantime, Mr. Sultan had meetings with leaders of related departments from Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs Office and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV, also President of Shanghai Art Collection Museum, where the idea to hold an exhibition about Chinese traditional fine art in Alexandria, Egypt came up.

Mr. Yong Ying, Mayor of Shanghai with Mr. Mohamed Sultan, Governor of Alexandria, Egypt

From Nov. 2017 to Jul. 2018, with the guidance of hosting organizations Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs Office and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, the main organizer Shanghai Art Collection Museum held many meetings with related co-organizers to discuss the exhibition program and select exhibits, which can represent Shanghai intangible cultural heritage level, and make each point into practice. In Nov. 2017 and Jul. 2018, a delegation led by Mr. Muqing Hu, President of Shanghai Art Collection Museum flew to Egypt twice, visiting related governmental departments and institutions, to have a deep investigation on the cultural and art resources of Egypt and implement detailed organization work such as diplomatic and customs declaration, logistics arrangement, meetings with specific departments of exhibition venue, investigation and design of the exhibition space, setting-up of the exhibits, invitation of guests and media agencies to the opening, confirmation of the procedures, reception arrangement of the working delegation, recruitment and training of the volunteers, etc., which actively laid a solid foundation for the success of exhibition. 

The first visit of delegation from Shanghai Art Collection Museum to Alexandria Governorate of Egypt and meeting with Mr. Mohamed Sultan, Governor of Alexandria as well as Mr. Nanshan Xu, Consul General of the P.R. China in Alexandria

The cultural landmark of the world civilization - Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Alexander Library) was specifically selected for the exhibition, where Shanghai intangible cultural heritage could be presented on the stage of the world.

The interior of Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The interior of Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The showroom of Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Considering different opinions and cultural elements of China and Egypt, the Exhibition and Art Design Department of Shanghai Art Collection Museum has designed visual images of different sizes and layouts for the promotion of the exhibition based on the understanding of the features of exhibits. Besides, the designers combined the traditional Chinese characters with Shanghai style architectures and the Middle East colors to publish catalogs.

The cover of the catalog

The contents of catalog

The poster of exhibition on the central square of BA

The entrance of the showroom

The exhibits of this exhibition with the total amount of 150 pieces are all fine arts and crafts provided by intangible cultural heritage protection departments, institutions, and inheritors in Shanghai. They are very representative, covering the Jinshan Peasant painting, Shanghai style cashmere embroidery, opera costumes, woodblock watermark, Shanghai jade carving, Jiading bamboo carving, gold and silver crafts and other intangible cultural heritage protection projects from Shanghai.

In order to highlight the characteristics of each exhibition area, the design team of Shanghai Art Collection Museum made a special trip to Egypt for display of the exhibition, bringing the modern Shanghai style to ancient Bibliotheca Alexandria.

The unique display

Right before the exhibition, Mr. Bing Ni, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, led a delegation to Alexandria to inspect the preparation work and attend the opening ceremony.

The delegation led by Mr. Bing Ni, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, visited Alexandria Governorate.

On Aug. 8th, 2018, the first session of TECFA, which attracted much attention from all circles of the society, was successfully opened at the Bibliotheca Alexandria. Lots of Chinese and foreign leaders, guests, artists and media attended the opening ceremony. The exhibition attracted numerous ordinary Egyptian audiences, who expressed great interest and appreciation for the exhibits from Shanghai.

Media and guests at the opening ceremony

Traditional Chinese musical instrument and woodblock watermark performances, which earned the great interest and appreciation of domestic and international guests and audiences

 The unique display of the exhibition left a deep impression on the numerous visitors.

This exhibition is not only the fruitful result of the visit of Mr. Mohamed Sultan, Governor of Alexandria to Shanghai in 2017, but also an important part of “the Belt and Road” cultural exchanges between China and Egypt. It was reported by nearly 100 mainstream media in China and Egypt and aroused grand social impact.

 Some coverage from Chinese and English media

Some reports from Arabic media

Reports from TV Channels in Egypt

After the exhibition, leaders of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs Office and Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV listened to the summary report of the exhibition.

Leaders from Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs Office said, the exhibition was well prepared and conducted. It achieved great effects on site. Besides, it was a successful event of cultural exchanges between Shanghai and sister city Alexandria. They extended expectations and support for the second session.

Mr. Guangyong Liu, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs Office and related leaders were listening to the summary report of the exhibition.

The leaders of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV also said that although there were many difficulties in the previous period, the results of the exhibition were satisfying with the support of all sectors of society. In addition, they have gained lots of precious experience on promoting our culture to the world from the exhibition. They believed that this event could be a name card for Shanghai to communicate with countries involved in “the Belt and Road” initiative.

The co-organizers and exhibitors said this was a successful exhibition, which not only greatly expanded the overseas influence of Shanghai's intangible cultural heritage, but also built a high-level platform for the exchanges among related intangible cultural heritage departments and institutions in Shanghai. Meanwhile, they took the opportunity to have deep communications with Egyptian peers, learning intangible cultural heritage protection experience and methods from each other. It was a fruitful trip for them. 

Leaders from hosting organizations led by Mr. Bing Ni, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV were listening to the summary report of the exhibition made by each undertaking and co-holding organization.

As representative of hosting organizations, Mr. Bing Ni, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, issued letter of thanks to all the co-holding organizations at the sum-up meeting, including  Shanghai Art Collection Museum, Shanghai Municipal Culture & Arts Archives, Shanghai Art & Design Academy, Shanghai No.1 National Musical Instruments Factory, Shanghai Duoyunxuan Group, etc.

This exhibition was conducted successfully. We hope to see you again next year!