Bashi—Foreign Artists in Chengdu and Chongqing

Liu Dingrui

Artistic pieces displayed abundant content， such as the sunset over Yuzhong District in Chongqing， the bell tower of Sichuan University， the Dazu Rock Carvings， and the Sanxingdui Bronze Tree， as well as sugar paintings and emerald bamboo. From June 10 to 18， the “Bashi—Foreign Artists in Chengdu and Chongqing” art exhibition was held. This exhibition was jointly hosted by the consulates-general of the United Kingdom， the Netherlands， and Germany in Chongqing and Chengdu. Five foreign artists living in Chengdu and Chongqing showcased their works， presenting a visual feast that celebrated the beauty of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-Hub Mega-Region.

The theme “Bashi” is a classic dialect term used both in Chengdu and Chongqing， which means very comfortable or pleasant. A total of 61 works were exhibited. They were contributed by five artists， including Stephen Ellison and Paul James from the UK， Mafalda Soares Nunes from the Netherlands， Torsten Schumann from Germany， and Armen Gevorgyan from Armenia. Drawing upon their extensive firsthand experiences and profound insights from living in the Chengdu-Chongqing region， they， from an outsiders perspective， have skillfully blended their own local cultural heritage with the diverse encounters of Chinese culture， distilling and expressing the vibrant experiences of the Sichuan-Chongqing region through the language of art.

“Art is a cultural form that transcends borders and languages，” said Li Mingquan， Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government. He emphasized that this art exhibition was not only a grand feast of art but also a platform for cultural exchange and cooperation. It enabled us to appreciate the charms of different cultures while fostering friendship and communication between each other. He believed that this art exhibition would undoubtedly enhance closer cultural exchanges between Chongqing and various countries， leading to a more prosperous cultural landscape.

The British Consul-General in Chongqing Stephen Ellison was among the exhibiting artists. His artworks primarily draw inspiration from his life in Chongqing. At this exhibition， over ten pieces from Mr. Stephen Ellison were exhibited， including Clouds Over the Yangtze River， Huguang Guild Hall， Dazu Buddha， and Evening on Nanshan， portraying his perception of China and Chongqing. “I would like to capture the charming Chinese culture in this way and I hope the beauty of China and Chongqing can be seen by more people through my works，” said Stephen Ellison.

Among the participating artists， Mrs. Mafalda Soares Nunes， the wife of the Consul-General of the Netherlands in Chongqing， possesses a wealth of multicultural encounters due to her life and professional experiences in Senegal， Guinea-Bissau， Brazil， Portugal， the Netherlands， and China. Integrating her personal background with newfound cultural experiences， she has undertaken artistic creations that explore the human and geographical landscapes of Chongqing through diverse cultural media. Paul James has lived in China for ten years. Since 2018， he has adopted the style of pop art and created silk-screen prints and lithographs depicting old Chinese architecture and traditional cultural symbols. He aims to capture old buildings and profound Chinese culture， infusing them with a fresh， contemporary artistic vision. Torsten Schumanns photography works were uniquely humorous， condensing his fragmented perspectives on urban life into interconnected image montages. Armen Gevorgyans works focused on the theme of nature. He once sought inspiration in Mount Emei and his artworks exhibited an elegant essence reminiscent of traditional Chinese landscape paintings， characterized by vibrant and bold colors.

Photo/British Consulate-General in Chongqing