BISHKEK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- In the exhibition hall at the Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts, young artists immerse themselves in their crafts: oil paints bloom on wooden trays, hammers and nails dance across leather, and clay takes shape beneath skillful hands.
This scene unfolded during the arts and crafts competition at the First Youth Delphic Games of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, where creative spirits from ten countries came together to showcase their talents.
The Games, being held from Monday to Saturday in Bishkek, feature competitions in eight categories, including piano performance, folk instruments, fine arts, folk singing, and arts and crafts.
Irina Novikova, 23, from Russia's Novosibirsk, is one of the participants in the arts and crafts category. She discovered her passion for ceramics during her second year at university and was instantly captivated by the medium.
"I'm drawn to clay because its plasticity allows me to convey the images that come to mind. We can draw them on paper, but clay lets us transform them into volume. That's what appeals to me most," she said.
At the competition, Novikova -- a master's student in design education at the Institute of Arts of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University -- created a ceramic piece exploring the theme of teacher-student relationships.
"I want to become a teacher of decorative and applied arts in the future, because I believe it is important to pass on experience and skills from the older generation to the younger one," she said.
Azamat Bakyt uulu, a civil servant in Bishkek, had the opportunity to observe the arts and crafts competition through his involvement in organizing the Games.
"This is a valuable opportunity to witness outstanding talents from different countries demonstrating their craftsmanship firsthand," he noted. "It is not only a dialogue between cultures, but also a vivid reflection of the unity and friendship among the youth of the SCO family."
In the folk instruments category, 19-year-old Chinese participant Shen Xinle captivated the audience with her performance. Taking center stage, she played pieces on the Zhongruan -- a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument from the ruan family -- sparking strong interest among spectators. Many even recorded her performance on their mobile phones, holding their hands up until the final note.
Shen began studying the Zhongruan at the age of seven. One of her main goals in participating in the competition was to introduce this instrument to a wider audience. "Compared to the Guzheng and Erhu, the Zhongruan is a relatively niche instrument. I hope that through my performance, I can arouse more people's interest in this Chinese folk instrument," she said.
The Chinese participant was particularly impressed by the friendly attitude of the other participants. "They not only greeted me warmly, but also were interested in the Zhongruan and asked me to play it," she said. "Although we sometimes had to rely on translation programs to communicate, it didn't prevent us from bonding over our shared love of music."
At the opening ceremony of the Games on Tuesday, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev expressed confidence that the Delphic Games would be an important step in strengthening humanitarian ties, uniting the youth of the SCO countries, and opening up new opportunities for cooperation.
Tong Dan, the head of the Chinese delegation, said in an interview with Xinhua: "We hope that our participants will take advantage of this international platform to showcase the results of their artistic training and communicate with participants from other countries for the sake of common progress." ■
