International artists capture Zhejiang's heritage and everyday beauty

Silk Road: Artists' Rendezvous — Poetic Echoes of Civilization, an exhibition featuring more than 40 works by 25 artists from 14 countries, opened on Sunday at the Liangzhu 5000+ Art Creation Park in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

The group mixes established international artists with young overseas postgraduate students studying in China. The veterans — award-winning painters, sculptors, and new-media creators — hail from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Australia, and Kazakhstan. The younger participants, from Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Russia, and India, are currently working toward fine arts degrees at the China Academy of Art.

The show is the result of a shared journey. From Oct 9 to 13, the artists visited three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, the Zhejiang section of the Grand Canal, and West Lake. They also watched Wu Opera in Yiwu, experienced local craftsmanship, and walked through the vast Yiwu International Trade City. After the field trips, they spent three intensive days creating work on-site at the China Academy of Art.

Centered on the theme "Picturesque Zhejiang", the exhibition unfolds in three parts. A Realm of Mountains and Waters gathers pieces inspired by the province's landscapes and heritage sites. Along the Way focuses on everyday life and public spaces where the traditional and the modern sit side by side. Where Cultures Converge brings together works in which the artists weave their Zhejiang experiences into their own cultural backgrounds, personal stories, and imaginations.