Art brings different worlds a little closer

The second Sino-French Art and Design Exhibition, titled "INTERREALM", was held at the Carrousel du Louvre from Oct 23 to 26. Bringing together 24 artists and designers from China, France, the Netherlands, and other countries and regions, the exhibition showcased 39 works (or groups of works) across a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, installation, fiber art, ceramics, fashion design, and digital art.

The exhibition was jointly initiated by the China-France Heritage and Innovation Center (CHIC), CIRCLE, and MINDSWELL. Its main section, themed "Contemporary Care: How Do We Continue to Connect with Each Other?" explored care as a lens through which to reinterpret the relationship between people and the world. Addressing themes ranging from memory, companionship, and trauma to healing, the participating artists transformed personal experiences into art expressions that resonate with a wider audience.

Curator Meng Yueming said, "Tradition is no longer simply history to be preserved, and design is not merely a combination of function and form. Art becomes a way of re-examining the world, allowing people from different cultures, generations, and creative backgrounds to share experiences, raise questions, and forge connections in the same space."

The exhibition is divided into four sections: "Contemporary Care", "Cross-Cultural Exchange", "Contemporary Transformation of Intangible Heritage", and "Youth Growth Plan". Together, the 39 works (or groups of works) highlighted the varied dimensions of contemporary art and design. They also demonstrated that cross-cultural artistic exchange goes beyond blending visual elements. Rather it is an ongoing dialogue between different systems of knowledge, material experiences, and ways of life.

The event also featured two themed round-table forums. The first, "Caring Connections: Art, Attention, and New Relationships", explored how personal experiences, public sharing, and exhibitions can foster connections through everyday objects. The second, "Caring for Materials and Heritage: Living Heritage, Craftsmanship, and Contemporary Creation", turned the spotlight on materials and craftsmanship, exploring the place of traditional skills and cultural heritage in contemporary artistic practice. Both discussions closed with a shared question: "How can we ensure that culture and experience continue to be understood, shared, and passed on to future generations?" The forums offered a common concluding thought: Care is about sustaining relationships and keeping them alive.