Through the integration of tradition and innovation, as well as art and science and technology, the exhibition seeks to create an immersive and perceptible Eastern visual system and a distinctive way of understanding the world, said Curator Yu Xuhong, also president of the China Academy of Art.
VENICE, Italy, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of visitors lined up at the China pavilion of the Venice Biennale, waiting for their turn to see something unusual: a robot slowly moved its mechanical arm, guiding a traditional Chinese calligraphy brush across a sheet of paper.
Stroke by stroke, the brush wrote two Chinese characters which mean "Dream" and "Stream" respectively.
The scene was unfolding recently at the China pavilion of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy. "Dream Stream," inspired by Dream Stream Essays, an encyclopedia written by Shen Kuo in China's Song Dynasty, is the theme of this year's China pavilion exhibition.
As the 83rd Venice International Film Festival opens on Wednesday, Venice is welcoming visitors from around the world, with the Biennale also seeing a surge in visitors. At the China pavilion, the blend of traditional Chinese culture, contemporary art and modern technology has drawn many curious visitors.
"It is the first time I have seen a robot writing," Andrea, a visitor from Austria, told Xinhua. "What makes it even more special is that it is writing Chinese calligraphy with a traditional brush," she said.
Visiting the pavilion with her daughter, Andrea said they both enjoyed experiencing the combination of traditional Chinese culture and modern technology. "We were really surprised by what we saw here," she said.
Another attraction for visitors is a playable section featuring scenes from the globally acclaimed Chinese video game "Black Myth: Wukong".
A giant widescreen unfolds before visitors, creating an immersive experience that brings them into a world inspired by traditional Chinese mythology. Beside the screen stands a sculpture of "the Destined One", the game's iconic protagonist.
After playing for several minutes, Thomas, a visitor from Germany, said he was impressed by the game's beautiful visuals and smooth controls.
He asked how to download the game, saying he hoped to experience the full version and learn more about the traditional Chinese mythology behind it.
According to the organizers, the exhibition combines calligraphy, video, digital art, multimedia installations and robot display to present Chinese tradition in new forms.
Works such as "Liangzhu Highlight" and "Kinetic Droplet Instrument" transform diverse Chinese cultural elements into experiences that can be seen, felt and interacted with, creating a space for dialogues between the ancient and the contemporary, while highlighting cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and other parts of the world, according to the organizers.
At the opening ceremony of the China pavilion in May, Curator Yu Xuhong, also president of the China Academy of Art, said the theme "Dream Stream" draws on the Eastern wisdom embodied in Dream Stream Essays, particularly its spirit of exploring the principles of things and seeking harmony between humanity and nature.
Through the integration of tradition and innovation, as well as art and science and technology, the exhibition seeks to create an immersive and perceptible Eastern visual system and a distinctive way of understanding the world, said Yu.
For visitors, that vision comes to life through the artworks and interactive experiences on display. Eszter Nagy and Adam Lendvai, visitors from Hungary, told Xinhua that the exhibition offered a glimpse into the intersection of Chinese culture and digital technology.
"What we saw here was just a small part of each. We believe there is still so much more to explore," they said, adding that they would be interested in seeing more and perhaps visiting China one day to experience its culture firsthand.
This year's China pavilion exhibition will run through Nov. 22.■
