Culture center salutes Chinese-Danish ties
Print Edition
THE ongoing cooperation between Denmark’s and China’s cultural authorities will result in highly anticipated cultural centers in both countries this year.
Situated on Hans Christian Andersen Boulevard, in the heart of Copenhagen, a newly painted yellow building has been attracting public attention. This is where the new Chinese Culture Center is located, after its grand opening that was held Wednesday.
The building, designed by architect Christian L. Thuren and erected in 1906, has until recently housed the Royal Danish Academy of Music.
Cultural inheritance
Asked why Denmark was chosen as the first Nordic country for a Chinese Culture Center, Li Jinsheng, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Denmark, said that China and Denmark had developed excellent bilateral relations and “now it is the best period in history.”
Li noted that Danish culture was unique. “Chinese people are especially interested in Danish culture. The very first Dane we got to know is Hans Christian Andersen, who has a great influence in China. Moreover, Danish modern design, environmental protection and green development concepts are also very popular in China.
China and Denmark have had considerable development in humanities recently. Prominent universities like Copenhagen University and Aarhus University have begun offering Chinese as a major. The Confucius Institute for business, innovation and music has been established in Denmark as well.
Chinese language has become an option in Danish middle schools, with some even make Chinese language courses mandatory. Even the Danish royal family has a Chinese version of its official website. Chinese people are getting to know Denmark more, and choose to study or travel to Denmark more than ever.
In the spring of 2010, the famous Little Mermaid statue was brought to the Shanghai World Expo 2010 as a token of friendship between Denmark and China. It marked the first time the statue left its perch in Copenhagen Harbor in almost a century.
The 2,434-square-meter Chinese Culture Center building was home to the Royal Danish Academy of Music for over 100 years and is within a stone’s throw of the New Carlsberg Sculpture Museum and the world’s second-most-popular seasonal theme park, Tivoli Garden.
Li views the purchase of this historic building as a coincidence. “A lot of people asked if we have chosen this building because it is located on H.C. Andersen Boulevard, as H.C. Andersen is well known in China. In fact, it’s quite by chance, a pure coincidence,” he said.
He stressed the importance of the functionality as well. “The building of the Royal Danish Academy of Music has a large concert hall which suits our needs well,” he said. “It was a building of music and a building of culture, so the new Chinese Cultural Center is a kind of culture inheritance.”
The cultural center, a non-profit institution, will be used as a library, for exhibitions, concerts and education, Li said.
He said the center will function based on the local situation and actual needs. “As long as there is demand from the public, we will try our best to fulfill the need,” he said.
Apart from showcasing Chinese culture and history, the center will also promote Chinese contemporary art and the achievements of modern culture.
Ideas exchange
“Chinese contemporary art has attracted a lot of attention. In order to find more in common, we will also show contemporary artistic achievement to promote dialogue among civilizations. We are open to all kinds of Chinese art as long as it is good and useful for the Chinese people and our mutual relationship,” said Li, referring to the focus and direction of the center’s future work.
The center will focus on activities that promote ideas exchange and cultural fusion. Li said: “The collision of different ideas usually enables us to learn from each other, and often leads to further understanding, trust, and strengthening friendship.”
According to the bilateral agreement, a Danish Culture Center will also soon be established in Beijing. Moreover, Denmark is planning to launch a Danish culture season all over China from October 2014 to May 2015, which will be the largest cultural events Denmark has ever organized overseas.
“Chinese are truly interested in sharing their culture. I was, therefore, pleased to sign an agreement with the Chinese minister of culture on December 5 last year, when we agreed to strengthen relations,” said Marianne Jelved, Denmark’s minister of culture, in comments made to Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende.
“We must see China’s purchase of the old Academy of Music as a tribute to Denmark ... and this will indeed strengthen ties,” she added.
From the Danish government to society, everyone welcomes the Chinese Culture Center, Jelved said.
“I think it is interesting that a state with almost 1.4 billion population will place a cultural center in a small country of only 5 million inhabitants. It is entirely due to Hans Christian Andersen, whom the Chinese love, linking the two worlds together,” she said.
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