Exhibition of artworks by Chinese, Italian artists opens in Chengdu

A joint exhibition of artworks by Chinese and Italian artists opened Saturday in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, featuring nearly 100 works that help bridge cultures through visual art.

Titled "Shared Artistic Resonances -- Liu Wanming and Andrea Lellario," the exhibition presents 77 pieces by Chinese painter Liu Wanming and 22 by Italian artist Andrea Lellario.

The exhibition highlights the artists' representative works, allowing audiences to appreciate aesthetic beauty while exploring the spiritual core behind different cultural traditions.

"You can feel both the differences and the commonality of Chinese and Western cultures. For example, the two cultures have the common pursuit of life and beauty. This kind of cross-cultural artistic dialogue is especially meaningful. I've gained a deeper understanding of different cultures, and I hope there will be more exhibitions like this in the future," said Zhang Yang, a visitor.

Liu's works reflect his efforts to inherit and innovate traditional brushwork, while Lellario explores East-West cultural fusion. Both artists channel heartfelt emotion and cultural insight into each stroke of their work.

"We, with different techniques and from different countries, express the same fundamental truth of art -- its authenticity. Whether in my paintings or Andrea's, there is a shared dimension, which is, in the pursuit of fine detail, in observing and depicting objects, we indeed have something in common," said Liu, who is also president of the China National Academy of Painting and vice chairman of the China Artists Association.

"The joint exhibition with Master Liu Wanming and me is an experience of great value. In Chengdu, I've experienced the inclusive strength of culture and discovered the depth of Chinese artistic traditions through his works. The exhibition is an authentic dialogue between the two cultures, and I hope it will contribute to strengthening artistic exchange between Italy and China," said Lellario.

Exhibition of artworks by Chinese, Italian artists opens in Chengdu

More than 20 films will hit Chinese screens during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday from Saturday to Monday, spanning genres from revolutionary historical dramas, realism movies to suspense thrillers, according to the China Film Administration on Thursday.

Revolutionary historical films such as Blood-Spattered Cliff, Eight Sons, Eight Soldiers, and Half Of The Quilt, will pay tribute to martyrs through the lens.

Three films -- It's OK, Now I Met Her, and Sunshine Women's Choir -- tell moving stories of love, growth, and reconciliation.

It's OK is a contemporary family comedy that follows a mother and daughter navigating their joyful yet turbulent relationship. Now I Met Her tells a rebellious teenager who gets to know his late mother through her old diary. Sunshine Women's Choir, a film from the Taiwan region of China, portrays the "perfect" maternal love of "imperfect mothers."

The suspense film Game of Identity tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who accidentally swap lives, setting off an unexpected adventure. The documentary films Seeking Nature: The Code of Life, and Missions to the Moon (Part One) explore the connection between humanity and science.

Imported films from different countries, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, Project Hail Mary, and Hoppers, will deliver spectacular cinematic experiences to audiences.

The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Over 20 films expected to hit Chinese screens during Qingming Festival Holiday