China and France have been continuing to strengthen their cultural ties with close collaboration in art museums showcasing the great works of talented artists and the storied history of cooperation between both sides.
Described as the largest-ever cultural exchange project between China and France, the Shanghai Pompidou has been bringing French modern art closer to the Chinese public since it was launched in 2019.
The five-year project has seen Shanghai's West Bund Group partner with the Center Pompidou of France, organizing a series of exhibitions of various themes in both Shanghai and Paris, highlighting the evolution of modern art between the 20th and 21st centuries.
The main Shanghai venue of the West Bund Art Museum, which opened to the public in November 2019, was designed by British architect David Chipperfield and covers an area of 25,000 square meters, offering visitors the chance to gaze upon a comprehensive selection of art.
"The public any time of the year can come and see a really strong selection of modern and contemporary artworks with all the big names that the people expect to see, but also we're providing some insights with the local culture, the local history and the local creative scene. We have worked really hard to have the teams both from Pompidou in Paris and from the West Bund Museum in Shanghai strive for more ambitious goals," said Paul Freches, project manager for the Center Pompidou in Shanghai.
The museum also draws on the historical exchanges and connections between artists, according to Freches, who noted that throughout the 20th century, a significant number of Chinese artists studied in France, particularly Paris, which was a major center for art and culture.
"As early as in the 1920s, as many people do know now, they were the first generation of artists from China who came to Paris to study at the fine arts school. Some of them became very famous artist like Xu Beihong, or Liu Haisu, or Chang Shuhong. These artists actually were exhibited in Paris in 1933. And then this story went on decade after decade, then you have a second chapter in this history with artists such as Zhao Wuji. They were also sort of cultural ambassadors in a way," he said.
Meanwhile, Julie Narbey, general director of the Center Pompidou in Paris, which opened in 1977, said the art centers are not only venues, but also serves as bridges to connect both sides, and offers rich interactive activities for visitors to explore and enjoy.
"It's not only a museum. We have the second most important collection of modern and contemporary artwork all over the world, but we also have a public library for students or people who want to read some books. And we also have a workshop for kids and cinema and performing arts. You can come every week, and every week you will discover something else," she said.
Around 140,000 works are part of the vast Center Pompidou collection, the largest in Europe, with Chinese works also being featured from time to time. The exchange of exhibitions between the two Pompidou Centers ensures that the conversation is always mutual, Narbey said.
"It's an important cultural cooperation. Maybe the most important cultural cooperation between China and France and it is a real success. There are millions of visitors in Shanghai and I think they are really happy to explore our collection of artworks and our exhibition," she said.
Ties between the two countries are in the spotlight as 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, with a whole host of events being held throughout the year.
Shanghai art museum highlights historical, cultural ties between China, France
