Hangzhou exhibition builds bridges between China and Malta

An exhibition displaying the artworks of young Chinese and Maltese students opened on Tuesday at the Zhejiang Art Museum in Hangzhou, the capital city of East China's Zhejiang province.

"The exhibition is more than a collection of beautiful art," said John Busuttil, the Maltese ambassador to China, at the opening ceremony. "It is a passport to a cross-continental adventure."

"It is a testament to the power of children's imagination to build bridges or perhaps to sail boats between countries that seem worlds apart," he said.

Themed "Voyage of Art", the China-Malta Children's Art Exchange Exhibition has on display 29 paintings by students from Malta, along with 40 pieces by their counterparts in Hangzhou.

The exhibition echoes "Nihao! China — Exploring Zhejiang on a Maltese Luzzu", the theme of the 16th China Cultural Center Art Competition held earlier this year by the China Cultural Center in Malta and the Directorate for Early Years, Languages and Humanities of the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta. This competition encouraged participants to imagine the journey of a traditional Maltese luzzu fishing boat sailing to Zhejiang province.

The 29 artworks by the Maltese students for the exhibition are all winning pieces from the competition.

"Through this creative lens, students discover the natural beauty, the history, and the architecture of Zhejiang, comparing it with their own landscapes and traditions," said Alice Micallef, head of the Directorate for Early Years, Languages and Humanities of the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta.

"Their artworks reflect a thoughtful and imaginative interpretation of these discoveries," she added.

Meanwhile, students from four schools in Hangzhou were invited to create paintings on the themes "Exploring Malta on a Zhejiang Boat" and "A Tour of Zhejiang", of which 40 artworks have been selected.