Shanghai Art Collection Museum

Exhibition of Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage in Slovakia

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the friendly relationship between Shanghai and the Bratislava Region, the grand opening ceremony of "International Tour Exhibition of Chinese Traditional Fine Arts( Bratislava Station)" was held on October 12, 2023 at the Slovak National Museum - Musuem of History. This event was hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. It was co-organized by the Shanghai Art Collection Museum, the Shanghai Art & Design Academy, the Shanghai Art Research Center, and the Slovak National Museum -Museum of History. The event has received strong support from various entities, including the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in Shanghai, Shanghai lnternational Culture Association, Shanghai Magnolia Foundation for International Exchange, Shanghai Cultural Agency, Shanghai Changning District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Shanghai Printing Group Co., Ltd, Shanghai Juyuan Culture Development Co., Ltd.

Various distinguished guests attended the exhibition's opening ceremony, including:

- Cai Ge, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Slovakia Republic.

- Juraj Droba, the Governor of the Bratislava Region in Slovakia Repubic.

- Zhang Xiong, Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

- Radoslav Ragač, Director General of Cultural Heritage and State Language Section.

- Branislav Panis, Director-General of the Slovak National Museum.

- Wang Ji, Minister-Counselor from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Slovakia Repubic.

- Liu Guangyong, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

- Liu Min, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

- Zhang Qi, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

- Li Chunping, Municipality Inspector II Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai.

- Peter Barta, Director of Slovak National Museum-Museum of History.

The highlights of the opening ceremony:

The guests left their signatures at the registration desk.

The opening ceremony was co-hosted by Peter Barta, Director of the Slovak National Museum- Museum of History, and Han Rong, Director Assistant of Shanghai Art Collection Museum.

During the opening ceremony, a promotional video showcasing the beauty of Shanghai's urban landscape was presented to the Slovak audience. This exhibition is the third stop of the International Tour of Chinese Traditional Arts, following exhibitions in Alexandria, Egypt, and Istanbul, Turkey. The ceremony also included a retrospective video of the previous two exhibitions.

Mr. Cai Ge, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Slovakia Republic, emphasized that cultural exchange has always been an essential component of bilateral relations. Hosting this exhibition at such a significant moment holds great importance. It is not only allowed the Slovak people to appreciate the profound and vast Chinese culture but also enables everyone to experience the deep traditional friendship between the two countries. Ambassador Cai Ge called for China and Slovakia to further enhance practical cooperation in various fields, utilizing the "Belt and Road" initiative as a platform for mutual benefit.

Mr. Juraj Droba, the Governor of Bratislava Region expressed that silk has been a symbol of China since ancient times, and this exhibition adds a new dimension to the "New Silk Road," allowing the people of Slovakia the opportunity to get a closer understanding of Chinese traditional arts. It further promotes cultural exchange between the two regions.

Mr. Zhang Xiong, Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai Municipal People's Government expressed that intangible cultural heritage carries the cultural memories of different countries and ethnicities. This exhibition brings representative Shanghai intangible cultural heritage to Slovakia, allowing more local people to understand and appreciate the unique charm of Shanghainese culture. In the future, Shanghai will continue to present the achievements of its Chinese-style modernization practice to the international community, promoting the continuation and elevation of mutual understanding between different cultures and civilizations.

Mr. Radoslav Ragač, Director General of Cultural Heritage and State Language Section expressed that the shared emphasis of China and Slovakia on intangible cultural heritage has brought the two countries together. He believes that this exhibition will arouse the strong interest of the Slovak audience and promote further cooperation

Mr. Branislav Panis, Director-General of the Slovak National Museum traced the commonalities in the history and culture of both China and Slovakia. He expressed that this exhibition showcases the richness of cultural exchange between East and West spanning over two thousand years.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Hu Muqing, President of Shanghai Art Collection Museum and the chief curator of this exhibition; Mr. Song Lei, Rector of Shanghai Art and Design Academy; Mr. Zhou Dong, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Printing Group Co., Ltd.; and Ms. Gu Weiping, General Manager of Juyuan Cultural Development Co., Ltd presented a collection of distinctive traditional art works to the Slovak National Museum - Museum of History.

Distinguished guests from China and Slovakia left their signatures on a scroll symbolizing the friendship between Shanghai and Bratislava, bearing witness to the grand opening of the"Brilliant Arts and Crafts——Exhibition of Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage ".

展览现场

This exhibition is divided into five sections, showcasing the unique charm of Shanghai's intangible cultural heritage through the following themes:

1. "Craftsmanship and Artistry: Shanghai Arts and Crafts Collection"

2. "Ink Melodies: Shanghai Printing Techniques Display"

3. "Masterpieces of Craftsmanship: Selected Shanghai Handicrafts"

4. "The Essence of Drama: Unveiling the Art of Chinese Opera"

5. "Life in Art: Selected Works of Shanghai Folk Painting"

These sections collectively feature over a hundred exhibits that highlight Shanghai's rich intangible cultural heritage, including Jinshan Farmer's Painting, Changning Suburban Farmer's Painting, Jiading Bamboo Carving, Xuhang Straw Weaving, traditional opera costumes, letterpress printing, and Haipai Yu Carving.

A continuous stream of guests visited the exhibition.

The opening ceremony was attended by various distinguished guests, including:

- Alexandra Kusá, Director of the Slovak National Gallery

- Vladimir Puchala, President of Slovakian Press Agency

- Michal Hlavačka, Head of the Department of Art Libraries of Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

- Eva Ševčíková, Head of National Traditional Culture

- Ivana Vala Magatova, Former Consul General of Slovakia Republic in Shanghai

- Li Shuiqing, Executive Director of Shanghai Art Collection Museum

The exhibition will run for one month, from October 12, 2023, to November 12, 2023, at the Landmark Bratislava Castle in Slovakia, and it is open to the public free of charge.