CGTN launched an online International Cartoons and Illustrations Exhibition on October 17. This year’s theme is “Embracing the Diversity of Civilizations,” advocating mutual respect among different civilizations to build bridges of friendship.
Artists from Asia, Europe and Africa have participated in this event and contributed nearly five hundreds of works to this exhibition. They have strived to build bridges between different civilizations in a bid to emulate the long-standing exchanges between East and West on the ancient Silk Road. At the same time, these artists have taken the connotation of “civilization” even further, prompting people to reflect on the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and the impact of development of science and technology on human civilization.
Famous visual artists from Italy, Japan and China, as special guests of this exhibition, also contributed their original works, expressing their thoughts on the diversity of civilizations.
Italian artist Joey Guidone, in his work Cultural fusion, uses spaghetti to show that food can connect different civilizations no matter how remote they are; Chinese illustrator Tang Yi combines the four ancient civilizations prospering on a Mobius strip, embodying the harmonious and everlasting coexistence of different civilizations; and another work from Cao Yi, a well-known Chinese editorial cartoonist who has nearly twenty years’ experience in his profession, is called The path to convergence. In his painting, the teapots with characteristics from the East and the West are connected by the aroma reminiscent of the routes on the ancient Silk Road that resonate with the bells of the camel caravans. All these works epitomize mutual respect, inclusiveness and communication among civilizations.
It’s worth adding that CGTN invited well-known artists from Europe and America to serve on the jury panel for the exhibition. Anders Suneson, a Swedish illustrator, also a former board member and founding member of the European Illustration Forum, told CGTN that “Embracing the Diversity of Civilizations” is a very wide theme, a bit hard for creation, but also an important and well-considered subject, as in the world today, hate and fear prevails over mutual respect that the exhibition is calling for. “We should respect other cultures in other ways, accept and respect different values in the world, even though we don’t hold the same ones,” he said. “Illustration and cartoons can help us to realize this and play an important role in promoting this,” he added.
Another juror, Leslie Cober, president of the Society of Illustrators NYC, told CGTN that the chosen theme conveys a positive global message and creates worldwide unity between artists. She said the artworks submitted to the event impressed her a lot, and each piece is unique, with a high caliber of skill.
Fifty entries have been selected for the online International Cartoons and Illustrations Exhibition. Art is a universal language and a picture is worth a thousand words. This exhibition is a meaningful attempt to explore more possibilities in cultural exchanges, to spark conversations and ultimately strengthen the connection worldwide.
For more details, you can find it here or scan the QR code below:
