Showcasing the best of Greek aesthetics
The year-long Cultural Year of Greece in China, which began this September, showcases the best of Hellenic Culture and present-day Greece.
Theatrical and dance performances, film tributes, archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and popular music, conferences and book exhibitions constitute the different activities taking place within the framework of the Cultural Year of Greece in China.
Art exhibition
An exhibition titled "Classical Memories in Modern Greek Art" will be held at Beijing Capital Museum from October 18 to November 16, under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
Comprising 63 works of art, the exhibition aspires to present an interpretation of the classical spirit of ancient Greece (ideas, themes, figures) by modern Greek artists, the ways in which it has inspired them as well as the ways they have represented it in the 20th century.
There was an increased interest in Greek antiquity during the interwar years, following a trend of turning toward tradition all over Europe.
A great number of artists, with Pablo Picasso at their head, turned towards classical antiquity during the years immediately following the First World War.
Encouraged by this renewed interest, Greek artists re-affiliated themselves with their heritage. However, Greek tradition was not limited to classical antiquity: Byzantium, in addition to folk culture, constituted for them a single, uninterrupted continuity.
The exhibition will showcase the artists' top works and feast Chinese art lovers' eyes.
Duration of the exhibition: October 18 - November 16, 2007
Address: Hall M of the Beijing Capital Museum,
No 16, Fuxingmenwai Dajie, Xicheng Disctrict, Beijing, 100045
Opening hours: Everyday except Mondays from 9:00 till 17:00
Grand concert
A concert with a stellar cast featuring a brand new work by world-renowned Greek composer Stamatis Spanoudakis will be held at Beijing Poly Theatre on October 19 at 19:30.
The concert, which opened the Cultural Year of Greece in China in September, features Spanoudakis' "Alexandros - Paths you never walked," and will be performed jointly by the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT (Greek Radio and Television Corporation) and the ERT Chorus.
Ticket info: Poly Theater
Poly Theater address: Poly Plaza, No 14, Dongzhimen Nandajie, Beijing
Tel:010-65011854/ 65001188
Website: ww.polytheatre.com
Photo show
A photo exhibition entitled "Greece through the Eyes of Yannis Psilakis", presenting a series of stunning photographs capturing the beauty of Psilakis' homeland and the splendor of Greece's magnificent culture, will run at the Hellenic Center in downtown Beijing from October 19 to November 30.
The exhibition, part of the Cultural Year of Greece in China, will provide visitors a beautiful photographic portrayal of the traditions, scenery, costumes and glorious architecture of the country.
Viewed as a latter-day Hemingway with a lens, Psilakis' work in this exhibition presents the singular spectacular topography of Greek landscapes, emphasizing the rich diversity of the Peloponnesian peninsula and Aegean archipelago.
Born in 1967, in Athens and passed away in 2006, his interest in photography began with an elective course at the University of London.
As a professional photographer, his work had addressed themes of travel, tradition and folklore. He had visited isolated regions throughout Asia and Africa in his personal investigation of some of the last remaining indigenous tribes on Earth.
Hellenic Center
As part of the Cultural Year of Greece in China, the Hellenic Center, under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture, will be set up in downtown Beijing, adjacent to the Forbidden City.
Throughout the Cultural Year, an array of exciting events will be held at the Hellenic Center, including some theme exhibitions, conferences, lectures and screenings.
Address: No 109, Nanheyan Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Exhibition Hours: 10:00-17:00 (except Monday & Tuesday)
(China Daily 10/18/2007 page19)
