Gongbi: between past and future
St Petersburg University and the Youth Centre of Vasileostrovsky District are jointly hosting two art exhibitions: "Gongbi: between past and future" and "China: a view from St Petersburg". These exhibitions are organised as part of the cross-cultural Years of Culture between Russia and China.
The ninth cross-cultural year offers a wide range of exciting events, including these exhibitions.
The Blue Hall will host the opening of the exhibition " Gongbi: between past and future". It will feature works by the young Chinese artist Tu Zhun, winner of several competitions, as well as works by students from his school — participants in the SPbU’s additional education programme "Traditional Chinese Gongbi Painting".
Timed to coincide with the Chinese New Year, the exhibitions promise an atmosphere of impressions, music and vibrant colours. Music and painting have always brought together like-minded people from China and St Petersburg. The opening ceremony will feature a packed programme.
Guests and participants will be treated to a musical performance by award-winning artists and soloists from the Mariinsky Theatre’s Academy of Young Opera Singers: Sofya Shirinkina (soprano) and Alisa Izak (soprano). Both are graduates of SPbU’s "Academic Singing" programme (led by Galina Zhukova, Associate Professor, laureate of international piano competitions and Candidate of Philosophical Sciences).
Visitors will enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition "Gongbi: between past and future" and will have the opportunity to see how young residents of the Vasileostrovsky district perceive China’s history.
The event will conclude with a masterclass in traditional Chinese painting by artist Tu Zhun, where the Chinese master and St Petersburg students will work side by side to explore the foundations of folk culture as a symbol of friendship between China and Russia.