Panda-themed art exhibition opens in Kaohsiung

TAIPEI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A panda-themed art exhibition featuring installations, illustrations, paper-cutting artworks and decorations opened Saturday at the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum in Kaohsiung of China's Taiwan region.

Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are first greeted by two 1.3-meter-tall panda installations, which were unveiled at the opening ceremony as reciprocal gifts exchanged between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The artwork by the Chinese mainland artist features flowers associated with the traditional lunar calendar. It incorporates distinctive elements of Qiang embroidery, evoking the aesthetics of traditional Chinese culture, and was presented as a gift to the museum.

The work by the Taiwan artist Li I-cheng features an array of colorful, interwoven stickers highlighting Taiwan's local characteristics. It conveys hope for closer cross-Strait exchanges and was presented as a gift to Sichuan Culture Center, which is located in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"I incorporated Taiwan's landmarks and scenes from everyday life into my creation, hoping to showcase the charm of the island and help people on the mainland gain a better understanding of the region," said Li, who is a professor at Cheng Shiu University in Taiwan.

Other painted panda installations at the exhibition incorporate elements of China's intangible cultural heritage, such as oil-paper umbrellas, Sichuan opera face-changing, and blue-and-white porcelain.

The event also features a 10-meter-long graffiti scroll, inviting visitors to add their own colors to pre-drawn giant panda outlines and contribute to the collaborative artwork.

The opening day of the exhibition drew a large crowd. A local visitor said she has always been a big fan of pandas, and had even made a special trip to the Taipei Zoo to see Yuan Yuan and her family, the giant pandas gifted to Taiwan by the mainland.

"I am very happy that through artistic creation we can transcend geographical distance, enhance mutual understanding, and engage in sincere interactions. I hope giant pandas can become messengers of friendship, culture, and peace," said Venerable Yung Jung, deputy director of the museum.

Jointly organized by Sichuan Culture Center, Beijing Saisiboyi Culture and Art Co., Ltd. and the Taiwan-based Humanistic Culture and Education Foundation, the event will run until July 27. Enditem