The British abstract painter's works are now on display in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"It is obvious to me that the 19th century belonged to Britain, the 20th century to America and the 21st century to China and India, where most of the world's problems will be solved or not solved," says Dodd, who was the director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, a London-based cultural center, from 1997 to 2004.

"China is more interested in the world than the world is interested in Chinese culture. There are many reasons, but I think one of the most important is the great curiosity of the Chinese."

Dodd says he is trying to get more Chinese artists to exhibit their works in the West and bring more Western artists to China.

His connection with the country began in 1998 when he led an ICA team to stage exhibitions in Beijing and Shanghai, where they showed works of Damien Hirst and other famous British artists, as well as books on art and style. They also installed booths from which photos of people kissing were projected on a big screen, and that "drew a huge crowd", says Dodd.

Describing the time as the two most interesting weeks in his life, he says, "I thought then that the future belonged to China."

Dodd left the ICA to establish Made In China, a company to facilitate cultural, educational and commercial projects between China and Europe. It advised the British on their pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.