BRICS art exhibition held in Beijing

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With the aim of improving cultural exchanges and mutual understanding, an exhibition featuring artwork from the five BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - recently ended at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing.

The exhibition brought together representative artwork from the world’s five major emerging economies.

A total of 62 pieces of art, selected from national art museums and galleries from the five countries, were on display.

Artistic work on display. /CGTN Photo

The National Art Museum of China selected a collection of traditional Chinese ink-and-wash paintings by renowned masters including Qi Baishi, Ren Bonian, and Wu Changshuo, as well as a sculpture created by Wu Weishan, director of the museum.

"This sculpture depicts how Laozi, a great thinker in ancient China, went through Hangu Pass by riding a bull. Laozi called for mankind to be broad-minded, modest, inclusive and generous. He also called for mutual respect and understanding. These thoughts still apply in today’s world,” said Wu.

India’s National Gallery of Modern Art presented landscape paintings from the popular Indian artist Bireswar Sen, who is considered one of the most prominent landscape artists in the country's contemporary art scene. Visitors could take a closer look at the nature, magnificently depicted by the painter, through a magnifying glass.

Artistic work on display. /CGTN Photo

"These are very small paintings. You need a lens to see it. If you see it through a lens, it's different, it's surprising, like magic," said Adwaita Garanayak, Director General of India’s National Gallery of Modern Art.

The distinctive and diverse South African section included archaeological discoveries, recent sculptures, paintings and woodcuts.

The Brazilian pieces on display offered a window into the country’s contemporary art world. All of the artwork was produced in the 21st century by seven living and active artists.

And the State Museum of Oriental Art of Russia showcased a collection or work reflecting the juxtaposition of ancient traditions with the great changes that took place at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Artwork on display. /CGTN Photo

This exhibition was an important foreign exchange program of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

It aims to improve cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the BRICS countries.

"Art work is a reflection of a country, of a nation. I believe this exhibition will not only be conducive to enhancing friendship among the BRICS countries, but also of far-reaching significance to the promotion of international art exchanges," said Wu Weishan, Director of the National Art Museum of China.