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Italian artists: Marco Polo right about Hangzhou
By Serena Shao |
June 11, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SEVEN hundred and thirty years ago, Marco Polo traveled to China and visited Hangzhou, famously calling Hangzhou the most beautiful city in the world.
Seven centuries later, 101 Italian artists were invited to Hangzhou to see whether Marco Polo was right.
An exhibition titled "Following in the Footsteps of Marco Polo: Italian Artists Painting Hangzhou" concluded on Friday at Han House.
The artists visited in May last year and were divided into 10 groups that visited 10 areas, including the Grand Canal, West Lake, Binjiang Hi-tech Zone, Xixi National Wetland Park, Qianjiang New City, Fuyang and Chun'an County in Hangzhou.
The Italian artists represent almost all styles of contemporary art in Italy. They work in different fields and range in age from 24 to 78 years, according to Xi Tingjun, the curator of Han House.
Many of them visited Hangzhou for the first time.
"The old houses along the canal remind me those in my childhood, white and solid, just like life flowing along the canal," says Alexander Jakhnagiev, one of the artists.
After the artists returned to Italy, they spent a few months in painting every aspect of the modern, oriental city praised by Marco Polo.
"The artists' journey to China proves the unique beauty of this land," says Xi.
He quotes artist Danilo Maestosi from Rome as saying, "Hangzhou has two hearts: one is the ancient heart of civilization, whose pulse is slow and clear; another is the heart of modernization, whose pulse is strong and hard."
The theme of harmony runs throughout the works. Hangzhou is the third and last stop of the exhibition that opened in Venice and moved to Rome.
Seven centuries later, 101 Italian artists were invited to Hangzhou to see whether Marco Polo was right.
An exhibition titled "Following in the Footsteps of Marco Polo: Italian Artists Painting Hangzhou" concluded on Friday at Han House.
The artists visited in May last year and were divided into 10 groups that visited 10 areas, including the Grand Canal, West Lake, Binjiang Hi-tech Zone, Xixi National Wetland Park, Qianjiang New City, Fuyang and Chun'an County in Hangzhou.
The Italian artists represent almost all styles of contemporary art in Italy. They work in different fields and range in age from 24 to 78 years, according to Xi Tingjun, the curator of Han House.
Many of them visited Hangzhou for the first time.
"The old houses along the canal remind me those in my childhood, white and solid, just like life flowing along the canal," says Alexander Jakhnagiev, one of the artists.
After the artists returned to Italy, they spent a few months in painting every aspect of the modern, oriental city praised by Marco Polo.
"The artists' journey to China proves the unique beauty of this land," says Xi.
He quotes artist Danilo Maestosi from Rome as saying, "Hangzhou has two hearts: one is the ancient heart of civilization, whose pulse is slow and clear; another is the heart of modernization, whose pulse is strong and hard."
The theme of harmony runs throughout the works. Hangzhou is the third and last stop of the exhibition that opened in Venice and moved to Rome.
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