On February 24, the Vienna World Museum presented a sculpture collection certificate to Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China, corresponding academician of the French Academy of Arts and internationally renowned sculptor, and entrusted Mr. Liken, Ambassador of Austria to China, to forward the original certificate to express the importance and gratitude of the Permanent Display of Chinese artists' works in Austria.
In 2021, in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria, further deepen people-to-people exchanges and dialogues between the two countries, and promote people-to-people ties, under the active contact and promotion of the Austrian-Chinese Friendship Association, Wu Weishan was invited to create a sculpture "Painter Qi Baishi" and donated it to the World Museum in Vienna.
Photo by Chen Xi
"Painter Qi Baishi" was created in 2012, "The old man of Shiraishi stood there with a warm expression, holding a cane in his hand, greeting friends from all over the world at the door of his home, which fully reflected the hospitality of Chinese, and from his expression, he could also feel the gentleness of Chinese." He traveled to Austria to communicate with art from all over the world at the Musée du Mondes in Vienna, telling the story of China in a silent voice. At his feet is a black, square stone, like Chinese ink, on which is written 'Painter Qi Baishi', which is the idea of this work. Wu Weishan said.
Road snow photo
Founded in 1876, the Vienna World Museum is austria's largest anthropological museum dedicated to showcasing the world's cultural diversity and witnessing the changes in human society. "Painter Qi Baishi" is placed here, providing a good opportunity for Sino-Austrian artistic exchanges. For the National Art Museum of China, this is also a positive practice of continuing to expand Sino-Austrian cultural exchanges and promoting Chinese cultural dialogue in the world.
Painter Qi Baishi, Wu Weishan, 83x60x190cm, sculpture, bronze, collection of the World Museum in Vienna, Austria, 2021
Over the years, the Exchange Work between the National Art Museum of China and Austria has been carried out in an orderly manner, including the "Austrian Architecture Exhibition" in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Chancellor's Office in August 2006, the "Exhibition of Works by Austrian Contemporary Female Painter Orna Bay" in January 2006, the exhibition "Werner Berg – From Expressionism to Pop Art" in January 2013, and the exhibition "China - Facing Reality" at the Ludwig Foundation Museum of Modern Art in Vienna in 2007.
Qi Baishi is a well-known master of Chinese painting and one of the most internationally renowned Chinese artists on the world stage. The series of "Qi Baishi" images created by Wu Weishan have stood all over the world and have become an important artistic business card for the world of Chinese cultural dialogue. This donation activity is not only a work to set the sculpture "Painter Qi Baishi" in Austria, but also a witness to the cultural exchanges between China and Austria, and a vivid and concrete Chinese story that has taken root around the world.
Editor-in-charge: Wu Min