On June 15th, "Scenes Along the Way" — China-Laos Railway Photography Art Exhibition grandly opened at the Exhibition Hall of The Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing. The exhibition, guided by Yunnan government departments and research institutes, is hosted by Kunming University, and managed by its School of Fine Arts and Design. As a promotion project of Yunnan's Art Fund, the exhibition seeks to thoroughly implement the spirit of President Xi's important speech in Guangdong inspection, earnestly practice President Xi's Thought on Culture, promote the continuous development of cultural exchanges and artistic inheritance between China and Laos, foster shared achievements and values of civilization, enhance the friendship between two countries, and further promote cultural and artistic exchanges and cooperation between China and Laos.
The China-Laos Railway stretches from Kunming in China to Vientiane in Laos, covering a distance of 1035 kilometers. It stands as a testament for the mountains and rivers crossed, the friendship connected, and the joint construction of the Belt and Road. It is known as the "Development, Happiness, and Friendship Road" for people in China and Laos. This exhibition on the China-Laos Railway offers a fresh documentary perspective and presents a comprehensive display of the construction with international cooperation. From over ten thousand collected photographs, 217 were specially selected, alongside eight video works, to create an exhibition that artfully blends documentary and artistic styles and systematically interprets the shared "Belt and Road" theme of the China-Laos Railway. The exhibition includes five thematic sections: Magical and Majestic Green Path, Engineering Marvel of the Steel Silk Road, Colorful Path for Cultural Exchange, Interconnected Development Path with Harmony, and Common Future Outlook.
The opening ceremony was attended by more than 200 dignitaries, including Mr. Yang Zhouxian, Deputy Director of China National Arts Fund Management Center (CNAFMC); Mr. Wang Kai, Party Secretary and Executive Director of the Road and Bridge Company affiliated to China Railway Sixth Group; as well as leaders and guests from higher education institutions and artistic organizations in Beijing. Jin Youhe, Party Secretary of Kunming University, inaugurated the ceremony. Speeches were given by Professor Mu Deyuan, Honorary Chairman of Chinese Society of Cinematographers from Beijing Film Academy; Professor Wang Xiaoming, curator of the project from China Academy of Art; Ms. Duan Zhiyi, Dean of School of Fine Arts and Design at Kunming University; and Associate Professor Sima Qian, the project leader.
The exhibition premiered in Beijing will last for ten days (June 14th - June 23rd) and will later tour through five cities including Fuqing in Fujian Province, Hechuan in Chongqing, Pu'er and Jinghong in Xishuangbanna, and Kunming, with a total of six additional exhibitions and themed seminars planned.
Following the opening ceremony, a seminar was held by more than 20 attending experts and scholars to discuss and exchange ideas.
Translator: DING Zhizhong
Reviewer: BAI Jing
