This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. To further encourage the promotions of cultural exchanges and interactions between the two countries, Nan Fa Academy of Provence French, Guancheng culture week-end office, the Guancheng Library and 21 Space Art Museum are collective hosting the “The Soul of Wine – Ji Dahai's Art in Ink and Poetry Exhibition”. The event will begin on 7PM, May 17th at 21 Space Art Museum, in celebration of their grand opening.

 

Ji Dahai is a renowned Chinese painter residing in France, and is recognized amongst this new generation of Chinese painters. He co-funds China Culture Center of Provence, located in Southern France. The center is recognized by the French government as an institution that promotes friendly cultural exchange between these two countries. The unique techniques employed by Ji Dahai in his paintings of scenery have attracted a lot of attention from audiences, placing him as a star amongst European-Chinese painters. Additionally, he is also a poet. In “L'âme du vin”, you will be able to witness his artistic charm and versatility through his peculiar integration of Chinese and French Art.

 

Feng Peng, the curator of the exhibition, commented that “Da Hai is a poet, but also at the same time, an artist. His understanding between the relationship of art and poetry is much deeper than what normal people perceive. He maintains balance with his poetry and paintings, advocating that it is highly-possible for the two art-forms to go hand-in-hand. At the same time, the difference between his poetry and art is vastly pronounced. Da Hai's poems are not simply descriptors of his art pieces, nor are his art pieces visualizations of his poems. Albeit his poems and paintings have similar stylistic approaches, they are not homogenous on a literal basis. If we claim to find direct parallelisms in the paintings and poetry of both Da Hai and Velter while examining their collaboration work in “ L'âme du vin “, in the words of Su Shi – “we must be very naïve to think so”. We would like to emphasize the naivety to reveal the relationship through an analytical approach, regardless of the complexity in the relationship we see in Da Hai's paintings and Velter 's poetry. Rather, it is much wiser and more rewarding to approach their artwork from a child's perspective to truly understand it.

 

Painting and poetry both require observational and literary experiences in order to gain a mutual understanding. But a full understanding can never be gained through research alone.”

 

“ L'âme du vin –Works by Ji Dahai” present over 40 pieces of fine ink series to enlighten audiences about a new genre where poetry, painting and wine can be blended together and integrated into one.