By Xinhua writer Liu Xiaoyan
BRUSSELS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) --
"It's splendid and fantastic!" said Sophie De Laire standing before the jade
shroud of one of the princes from the Han Dynasty (206 BC -- AD 220). De Laire
came from Paris to Brussels to see the
Sons of Heaven exhibition held at the Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels.
As a centerpiece of the Europalia China art festival
opened here on Thursday, the Sons of Heaven brought together two hundred works
of art around Chinese emperors, who were called Tianzi in Chinese to show the
link between the sky, the earth and mankind.
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A visitor looks at Chinese cultural relics shown in
the multimedia presentation during the "Son of heaven" exhibition, part of
the Europalia China art festival, at the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels,
capital of Belgium, Oct. 8, 2009. The four-month-long Europalia China art
festival, kicking off here on Thursday, will offer the European audience
an unique opportunity to get to know all aspects of Chinese culture and
lifestyle. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)
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The works range from the establishment of the first
settlements in the Neolithic era, via the royal monarchies of the Bronze Age,
right up to the splendor of the last ruling dynasty, the Qing Dynasty (1644
--1911). They came from 20 museums and archeological institutes from 7 provinces
and cities in China. Some of the collections on display have never been shown
before outside China.
The opinion of De Laire was shared by many people
coming to the exhibition. Among them are Loyen Simonne and John Claessens, a
couple coming from Antwerpe, the second largest city in Belgium.
"We heard a lot from the Belgian media about
Europalia China and saw some of the works showed on TV," Claessens said.
"It's really nice and splendid. It's so real," said
Loyen who is watching a painting about Kazakhs presenting horses as tribute to
emperor Qianliong (1711-1799).
The dresses of the emperors showed at the exhibition
also impressed Loyen deeply. She said: "They look so nice with all the flowers
and golden threads, and I'm just wondering how long and how many craftsmen would
it take to make only one dress!"
Henri Debecker, an 86-year-old artist from Brussels,
said that "we have never seen these before in Belgium."
He said: "As an artist, I saw so many beautiful
things and I felt I was greatly inspired. I had a better understanding of the
Chinese culture and the Chinese people. "
Lieve Raymaekers, coordination guides from Bozar
Studios, said that she enjoyed the exhibition very much and she would ask her
relatives and friends to see it.
From October 8, 2009 to February 14, 2010, the
Europalia China art festival is going to present about 50 exhibitions and 450
art performances and cultural events in more than 70 cities in Belgium and four
neighboring countries, namely the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Germany.
The exhibitions and art performances will follow four
main themes: Immortal China, Contemporary China, Colorful China and China and
the World and each theme will be illustrated by a key exhibition.
Besides Europalia International and the Chinese
Ministry of Culture, 19 provinces, cities and autonomous regions, 58 museums,
libraries, archeological institutes and numerous public and private cultural
institutions from China also contribute to the organization of the art
festival.
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Belgium's Crown Prince Philippe and his
wife Princess Mathilde visit the "Son of heaven" exhibition, part of the
Europalia China art festival, at the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels,
capital of Belgium, Oct. 8, 2009. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)
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Gallery>>> |
