Mr. Wang Xiao Jun and his colleagues from the Shanghai “Hai Pai” Culture Association recently held a cultural event in honour of the forthcoming Expo, at the Shanghai City Library on Huai Hai Zhong Road.
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The association was founded by several of Shanghai’s top artists, calligraphers and scholars, as a forum for experts and local citizens to get together, explore traditional Chinese art and culture, exchange views and enjoy each others’ artistry.
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The event, which was attended by an array of painters and calligraphers, including Mr. Zhao Hong from Tong Ji University, (a regular lecturer for Double Dragon Alliance’s Feng Shui workshops at East China Normal University); Mr. Ge Nai Fu, a lecturer in traditional Chinese language and literature at Fu Dan University; Mr. Ah Xin, noted “Tiger” artist and painter whose work was recently exhibited at the library; Mr. Huang De Lin, a noted Shanghainese paper cut artist; plus renowned calligraphers Mr. Shen, Mr. Zhu Lei Fu and Mr. Gui Shui Min, among others.
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The event was dedicated to honouring both the start of the Year of the Tiger, as well as the upcoming Shanghai Expo and after the preliminary welcome speeches and stories by Mr. Ge about famous tiger legends in Chinese history, the artists dazzled the audience with a generous display of their talents, completing a variety of paintings, cartoon pictures, calligraphy, paper cutting “shadow portraits” and paper cuttings of a majestic tiger, many of which were given away free to the attending guests.
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In China the tiger stands for majesty, power, good fortune and vitality; mirroring the way many people in the West also view this magnificent creature.
Although the tiger stands at the edge of existence in our world, Mr. Ge, in his fascinating relay of Chinese fables, also called on everyone to think about protecting this beautiful member of our planet, one which I tried to echo in my short speech despite my very inferior Chinese language skills!
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The event was relaxed, entertaining and immensely educational; my thanks to Mr. Wang for his kind invitation and to the many masters and artists for their generosity!
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Rose Oliver????
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