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Celebrating Mexico's Day of the Dead in China

Updated: 2020-10-30 16:15:53

( chinadaily.com.cn )

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Two posters of the calavera (skull), part of "Color Calavera" by Mexican artist Adrian Edgar. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An important component of the holiday celebrations, the altar, usually decorated with flower petals, candles and offerings, is placed in each home in Mexico to facilitate the return of the souls.

Along with the altar, an art exhibit comprising 20 large-sized posters titled "Color Calavera" by artist Adrian Edgar is on view. The calavera, literally "skull" in English, is a popular symbol of the tradition alongside the calaca (skeleton). They appear in sweets, as parade masks and as dolls during the holiday.

Drawing inspiration from the Day of the Dead tradition, the artist instilled life and personalities in the skulls by rendering them in different color combinations.

Over the weekend, four Mexican short films – Down to the Bones, The Fisherman, Ramona, and Rain in the Eyes – all inspired by the tradition will be screened at the center, free to the public.

Posters of The Fisherman, Rain in the Eyes, and Ramona – three of the four short films to be screened over the weekend at the CHAO Art Center in Beijing. [Photo/Official WeChat Account of CHAO Art Center]

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The 15th Chinese Film Festival in Bangkok and the 2020 China-Thailand Film Exchange Week opens at the China Cultural Center in Bangkok on Oct 25, 2020. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

On Oct 25, the opening ceremony of the 15th Chinese Film Festival in Bangkok and the 2020 China-Thailand Film Exchange Week was held at the China Cultural Center in Bangkok. The event was hosted by the China Cultural Center in Bangkok and received strong support from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand and the Thai Ministry of Culture.

The COVID-19 pandemic doesn't impede the enthusiasm for cultural exchange between China and Thailand. This film festival uses live broadcast to present the opening ceremony and host the "China-Thailand Film Exchange and Cooperation Online Seminar". During the film festival, audiences can use the online platform of the China Cultural Center in Bangkok to watch films online, which greatly increases the global reach of the festival.

Gu Hongxing, director of the China Cultural Center in Bangkok and China Tourism Office in Bangkok, speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Gu Hongxing, director of Bangkok's China Cultural Center and China Tourism Office, said film can not only introduce one's national culture, but also reflect unique social landscapes. Film has become an important part of cultural exchange between countries and enhance mutual understanding among people around the world.


Yang Xin, Chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Yang Xin, Chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand 45 years ago, the mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen, economic and trade cooperation has expanded, cultural exchanges have become closer, and all-around cooperation has achieved fruitful results. Both China and Thailand have a vast film market. As a traditional project of cultural exchanges between China and Thailand, the Bangkok Chinese Film Festival has laid a solid foundation for film cooperation between the two countries for 15 years and will add new drive to the promotion of cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Thailand.

Itthiphol Kunplome, Thailand's minister of culture, speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Thailand's Minister of Culture Itthiphol Kunplome said in his speech the governments and people of Thailand and China have been in constant exchange. Cooperation in various fields has developed steadily, and the film festival is another important event to further promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. The people of the two countries can promote their understanding of the cultures of both sides through films, and promote friendly relations and cooperation in other perspectives.

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