STORY: China's contemporary art exhibition in Pakistan unites cultures, ignites creative inspiration
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 7, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:33
LOCATION: Islamabad
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the art exhibition
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HUDA ABDUL BASIT, Pakistani art enthusiast
3. various of the art exhibition
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SYED JAMAL SHAH, Pakistan's caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture
5. various of the art exhibition


STORYLINE:

Huda Abdul Basit, a student of English literature and a passionate art enthusiast, was deeply engrossed in the paintings by Chinese artists displayed at an exhibition in the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) underway in Islamabad.
   
The 22-year-old noticed a striking disparity between the works of Pakistani and Chinese art, primarily due to the dominant use of black color in the Chinese paintings, but simultaneously, she found the contrast intriguing because it presented a more audacious portrayal of life, pushing beyond the confines of traditional art forms.
   
Talking to Xinhua about her impression of Chinese art, Basit said that it invites everyone to adopt a more vivid and dynamic perspective on life, challenging conventional norms and exploring the complexities of existence through the prism of creativity.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HUDA ABDUL BASIT, Pakistani art enthusiast
"We should have more exhibitions like this, of course, not just physical exhibitions, maybe online as well, so that there's a lot more room to explore. And of course, it's going to help with the friendship. It's going to help connect the ties even better, even stronger."
   
The exhibition "Star Moon Road" was inaugurated on Tuesday, featuring diverse works by Chinese contemporary artists, showcasing a mix of artistic expressions, including scrolls, sculptures, and various other mediums, and offering a captivating exploration of Chinese culture and creativity.
   
It also marked the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
   
Launched in 2013, the flagship project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a corridor linking Pakistan's southwest Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, highlighting energy, transport, and industrial cooperation.
   
Speaking at the event, Syed Jamal Shah, Pakistan's caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture, said that the exhibition is a celebration of artistic excellence and cultural harmony, reinforcing the bond between Pakistan and China through the language of art.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): SYED JAMAL SHAH, Pakistan's caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture
"The greater message of the BRI, and the CPEC which is connected to the BRI, Pakistan and China are connected with each other through the very enviable cultural heritage. And we would like to strengthen the bridges that we have built through contributing our best. Our best has hidden in our cultural history and cultural heritage."
     
Shabbir Ahmad Zia, an Islamabad-based calligrapher with 40 years of experience in the field, was awestruck by the "free stroke" calligraphy works.
   
"I cannot understand the language, but the style is very impressive, and I can discern that it is a masterpiece of a very good artist ... the beauty of the work piqued my curiosity and inspired me to learn this style of the art and teach my students about it," Zia added.
  
The exhibition, which was previously held at other sites in the South Asian country's eastern Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces, attracted many students and art enthusiasts in the country's capital.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad.
(XHTV)