CAIRO, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and China are both ancient civilizations, and artists from the two countries should draw on their rich cultural heritages to promote mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people ties, a renowned Egyptian artist said.
"Art is an important bridge connecting Egyptian and Chinese civilizations," Ahmed Nawar, a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Helwan University, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Nawar has visited China three times. In 2013, he took part in an art tour of China under the "Silk Road: Artists' Rendezvous" program, an experience that remains vivid in his memory.
"During that trip, I spent about three weeks sketching and gathering artistic inspiration in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and other cities," he said.
He was deeply impressed by the artistic wisdom, creativity and superb craftsmanship that ancient Chinese artisans brought to architecture.
"The experience had a profound influence on my artistic work," Nawar said.
His experience in China became an important source of inspiration for his artistic creation. Drawing on China's landscapes, ancient architecture, traditional markets and ordinary people as subjects, he created more than 30 sketches, which were later exhibited at major galleries across Egypt.
"I interacted with Chinese people at tourist sites, markets and in streets and alleyways, observing their daily lives. Each place gave me a unique sense of beauty and artistic inspiration. When I walked through a traditional market in Xi'an, I could not help but think of the familiar scenes at Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo's old city," Nawar said.
For him, these works are like "treasures."
"Whenever I look at them today, I am reminded of the places where I created them, the people I met and the emotions I experienced at the time. Those memories remain vivid," the Egyptian artist said.
Nawar said he once held a solo exhibition on Zamalek Island in Cairo, attracting many local students, art enthusiasts and collectors. A seminar on Chinese culture and art was also held during the exhibition.
"People were not only interested in appreciating the artworks themselves, but also wanted to understand the China behind them. Artistic exchanges can spark interest, deepen understanding and bring different civilizations closer together," he said.
In recent years, Nawar has closely followed China's development in fields including science and technology, architecture and engineering, and has incorporated relevant examples into his classroom teaching.
"If I had not seen China's development achievements, natural beauty and rich historical and cultural heritage with my own eyes, I would not have been able to bring these experiences into my teaching and share with Egyptian students the value of traditional Chinese art and innovative practices in contemporary art," he said.
According to Nawar, sincere exchanges and cooperation among artists are an important force for bringing the Egyptian and Chinese peoples closer together and further deepening cultural exchanges between the two countries. ■