BELGRADE, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A touring exhibition showcasing contemporary Chinese paper-based art held its ceremonial opening on Wednesday at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, marking the latest cultural exchange between Serbia and China.
The exhibition, titled "Splendor Paper Art for Millennia," features 52 artists.
Tang Dasheng, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Serbia, said that paper - a key Chinese invention that once spread along the Silk Road - is returning "in the form of art" as a bridge connecting people. The exhibition features paper as a medium across ink-based and mixed-media approaches, including printmaking and collage.
"We hope it will deepen mutual understanding," Tang said.
Serbia's Assistant Minister of Culture, Stanko Blagojevic, said the event reflects the direction of bilateral cultural cooperation, calling paper one of humanity's most valuable achievements with continued relevance even in the digital age.
Marko Ladjusic, dean of the Belgrade Faculty of Fine Arts, said culture and art are among the strongest bridges between peoples and support deeper exchanges between Serbian and Chinese artists and students.
The exhibition has been on display since Dec. 19 and runs through Jan. 13, 2026, with Wednesday's ceremony marking the official opening of the Serbia stop on the international tour.
According to the organizer, this exhibition reinterprets paper as a central medium for contemporary Chinese art, transcending its traditional craft origins through a synthesis of painting, installation, and sculpture. The collection highlights the material's modern vitality, demonstrating how artists are transforming paper into a versatile vehicle for innovative visual expression. ■