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China Cultural Heritage Week 2017 kicks off in Islamabad. The exhibition will continue from July 7 till July 14.
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A cultural week on China’s intangible cultural heritage has kicked off in the capital city of Islamabad at PNCA (Pakistan National Council of the Arts).
The festivity offers an excellent opportunity for Pakistanis to enjoy diverse Chinese artwork such as Jinzhou Modern Folk Painting, Chinese Paper-Cutting, Bird-Worm Seal Script, Dough Modeling as well as Ceramic Handicrafts.
The exhibition will also offer art lovers and visitors a chance to interact directly with intangible cultural heritage experts from China.
Ambassador of China to Pakistan Sun Weidong inaugurated the “China Cultural Heritage Week”. He said that the cultural week would offer a good opportunity to Pakistani people to better access to traditional Chinese culture so as to improve mutual understandings of the two peoples.
Some of the eminent guests included Deputy Secretary National History and Literary Heritage Division Nazir Ahmed, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Qasim Bughio, Director General Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Syed Jamal Shah, Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr. Fouzia Saeed, Cultural Counsellor of Embassy of China You Yi. A large number of people from different walks of life attended the inauguration ceremony.
The exhibition was titled Inheritance and Innovation Exhibition of Dalian Jinpu New Area Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Ambassador Sun Weidong remarked that “Intangible cultural heritage means the practices, representations, and expressions, as well as the associated knowledge and the necessary skills that are part of cultural heritage. The vitality of culture lies in the inheritance and innovation, just the same as the theme of this cultural week.”
China and Pakistan – the two close neighbors and friends are also rich in intangible cultural heritage, he said.
“Pakistan is endowed with a rich cultural heritage both tangible and intangible, including mosques, relics, palaces, over 60 indigenous languages, folk music and dances, ceramics, woodwork and so on.
“China is a country with a long history of civilization and splendid intangible cultural heritage resources.” Some 39 Chinese intangible cultural items have been successfully entered the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, ranking top in the world.
Apart from the Chinese artwork on display, the Urdu version of the Chinese book “Contemporary Chinese Short Stories” selected & translated by renowned poet Mr. Munir Fayyaz was also launched during the ceremony. The book has recently been published by Pakistan Academy of Letters.
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China Cultural Heritage Week
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Chinese Cultural Counsellor You Yi said that China Cultural Heritage week is a global event organized by the Ministry of Culture of Chinese government in nearly 30 China Cultural Centers all over the world to introduce Chinese culture to the world.
He said that such events would further strengthen cultural and bilateral relations of two friendly countries Pakistan and China.
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Main Attractions of the Exhibition
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The festivity is divided into two parts exhibition of Dalian Jinpu New Area Intangible Cultural Heritage and exhibition of the China Paper Cutting Art. The event offers a platform for visitors and students to interact and source directly with the exhibitors, showcasing their modern folk paintings, Chinese Paper-Cutting, Jinzhou Bird-Worm Seal Script, Jinzhou Ceramic Handicrafts, Liaonon Dough Modeling etc.
“Jinzhou folk painting is a comprehensive art of traditional folk elements and art presentation, using simple brushwork and intense color,its tell stories through modern art language and express the dream forbetter life of the painters” according to Chinese Cultural Counsellor You Yi.
He said that Chinese paper-cut is a popular art integral to everyday lives. Many techniques are used such as the paper can be cut or engraved with a chisel, coloured or left blank. 150 Jinzhou Ceramic and Handicrafts and Liaonan Dough Modelling samples will also be a great attraction for visitors.
Chinese master art craftsmen were also present on the scene to demonstrate the making of art to the visitors.
Exotic Pakistani Truck art is also on the display at the Exhibition which remained a center of attraction for the Chinese guests.
Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Prof Dr. Qasim Bughio hopes that the cultural heritage week would prove a milestone in bringing both the cultures and men of letters closer. “Culture of every civilization is considered significant as it defines the ways of living of human beings that could not be ignored at any cost.”
The exhibition will remain open for general public from July 7 till July 14.