The Museum of fine arts of Turkmenistan hosted the grand opening of an exhibition of fine art and photography titled «Beautiful China: The Art and Beauty of Xinjiang», organised by the International Liaison Department of the China Federation of literary and art circles, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Turkmenistan.
The opening ceremony was attended by Gurbanmyrat Myradalyyev, Minister of culture of Turkmenistan; Ji Shumin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Turkmenistan; Ysmayyl Orazov, Director of the State museum of fine arts of Turkmenistan; and Kuai Zhenming, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of literary and art circles and Chairman of the Xinjiang Artists Association.
The event was also attended by representatives of diplomatic missions, prominent cultural figures, members of the media, employees of Chinese enterprises, representatives of the diaspora, and students.
In his welcoming remarks, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to Turkmenistan, Ji Shumin, noted the long-standing ties and dynamically developing relations between the two states, within the framework of which cooperation is being successfully carried out in the trade, economic, cultural, and educational spheres:
– China and Turkmenistan − countries with an ancient history. We are firmly linked by the Great Silk Road. In recent years, ranging from agreements on the mutual establishment of cultural centres to the opening of a «Luban Workshop» and a centre for Chinese medicine, the substance of our humanitarian cooperation has become even more extensive. We hope that this exhibition will open a new window for us, help us sense even more opportunities for cultural exchange, and provide fresh impetus for our interaction. We hope that through these works, our Turkmen friends will be able to gain a closer acquaintance with Xinjiang a region characterised by harmony, cohesion, openness, and development.
The diverse exhibition presents an authentic and vivid picture of Xinjiang. While the diverse range of photographs from industrial shots showcasing the might of modern enterprises and urban landscapes to the picturesque nature of the Tian Shan mountains and oases captures the spirit of the times and the everyday lives of people with their genuine smiles, the paintings and traditional graphic works introduce the viewer to profound Chinese philosophy, revealing cultural traditions and the friendship between peoples.
In his remarks, Kuai Zhenming emphasised:
– We have brought with us the profound friendship felt by all the ethnic groups living in Xinjiang of China, as well as achievements in literature and the arts from this new epoch. Through these works, we wish for our friends in Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to gain a genuine, multifaceted, and comprehensive understanding of the dynamic development of modern-day China, and to experience more closely the beauty, harmony, and prosperity of the land of Xinjiang.
It is noteworthy that last year this exhibition was presented in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region. In Ashgabat, the exhibition will remain open until the 11th of November, offering residents and visitors to the capital a unique opportunity to explore the art and multifaceted culture of Xinjiang.
