On October 16, 2018, the exchange meeting for participants in the 4th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) International Art Biennial “Artistic Paintings and Friendship along the Silk Road” & the 7th International Art Forum “Artistic Paintings and the West Lake” were held at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. The Abbot of Lingyin Temple Venerable Master Guangquan delivered a welcome speech first, and then the first Secretary General of the SCO and former Vice Foreign Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Mr. Zhang Deguang, the Deputy Secretary General of the SCO Mr. Vladimir Zakharov, the former President of China Academy of Art Mr. Xiao Feng, and the Director of the Art Committee of China Artists Association Mr. Wang Zhong respectively delivered a speech. The Executive Chairman of the West Lake International Artists Association Mr. Gu Hong presided over the exchange meeting.
At the exchange meeting, Venerable Master Guangquan delivered a keynote speech “Buddhism and the Art of Painting”. He first talked about the integration between the Indian Buddhist culture and the Western Greek culture, and the influence of the Gandhara and Mathura School of Art on the Buddha images and statues in China. He also introduced the cave statues at Feilai Peak in Hangzhou, and the characteristics and artistic values of the Buddha and Bodhisattva statues of Lingyin Temple.
The International Art Forum “Artistic Paintings and the West Lake” and relevant art exchange activities have been successfully held for ten times in such countries as China, Russia and Kirghizstan, aiming to promote the excellent traditional Chinese culture and advocate the Shanghai Spirit. Such activities will help enhance cultural exchanges between Hangzhou and other SCO member states, and promote people-to-people bonds, mutual trust and respect among the peoples of the relevant countries. This will have significant impact on the internationalization process of Hangzhou.
The Secretariat of the SCO spoke highly of Lingyin Temple for its great support for the international art exchange activities.
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| Participants at the exchange meeting |
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| Venerable Master Guangquan delivering a speech |
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| Mr. Zhang Deguang delivering a speech |
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| Mr. Vladimir Zakharov delivering a speech |
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| Mr. Xiao Feng delivering a speech |
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| Mr. Wang Zhong delivering a speech |
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| Mr. Vladimir Zakharov and Venerable Master Guangquan exchanging gifts |
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| A group photo |
