Source: People's Daily Online
People's Daily Online, Beijing, April 26 (Reporter Zhou Yu) "Bonding with China: The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Chilean Painter José Vontuleri" was held in Beijing on the 26th.
The commemoration of "Bonding with China: The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Chilean Painter José Vontuleri" was held in Beijing. Photo by People's Daily reporter Zhou Yu
José Vontuleri was a famous Latin American artist and friend of China, who was invited to visit China for the first time in 1952. In the same year, he co-founded the Chile-China Cultural Association (Chilean Chinese Association), the first non-governmental friendship organization in Latin America, with Nobel Prize winner and Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and former Chilean President Salvador Allende. The following year, he was stationed in Beijing as Deputy Secretary-General of the Regional Liaison Committee for Peace in Asia and the Pacific, where he played an active role in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1970.
In his speech, Minister Counsellor of the Chilean Embassy in China, Mr. Wan Lansu, said that Chile and China have established close friendship and achieved cooperation results in the economic, political, academic and cultural fields. Culture is the driving force of diplomatic, economic and scientific exchanges, promoting dialogue and deep understanding among peoples and enabling them to build productive and lasting connections.
During his time in China, he not only worked as a teacher at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, but also introduced his wife, Delia, to teach at the newly established Beijing University of Foreign Chinese (now Beijing University of Foreign Chinese), contributing to the training of the first Spanish language workers in China. Their daughter Heping has lived in China since she was a child. In 2018, Heping mentioned in an interview at his home in Chile: "After my father went, I fell in love with China. From three weeks to three months, to three years. Because at that time, the founding of the People's Republic of China was a very, very important event for the world. ”
Wan Lansu said in an interview with a reporter from People's Daily Online: "Wan Tuleri and others laid the foundation for Latin America to know and understand China in the 50s of the 20th century, and also opened the way for cultural exchanges thereafter. We call them pioneers in the development of cultural and diplomatic relations. In the future, we will continue to explore the stories of writers and artists from both countries, and look for more opportunities for cultural exchange and cooperation. ”
An old photo of Wan Tu Leli (first from left) with Ai Qing, Xiao San, and Qi Baishi. Photo by People's Daily reporter Zhou Yu
Fabian Tothé, cultural counselor of the Chilean Embassy in China, said that thanks to the efforts of Wantuleri and others, after Allende was elected president of Chile in 1970, Chile became the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. "Last October, during Chilean President Gabriel Borici's visit to China, we also held an exhibition of photographs and sketches of Wantulleri at the National Art Museum of China. China also has a large number of excellent artists who need to be seen by people on the other side of the world. This is also an important purpose of our cultural exchange activities, so that artists from both countries can 'go out'. ”
Wantuleri's unique experience in China has also infused his work with traditional Chinese artistic styles. The series of paintings on display in this exhibition shows themes such as peace, development, and friendship. The exhibition opens on April 26, 2024 at Beijing Scitech Shopping Center and will be on display until May 13.
The exhibition "Connecting with China: The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Chilean Painter José Ventuleri" was held in Beijing. Photo by People's Daily reporter Zhou Yu