Chinese zodiac exhibition opens in Panama

Exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19, 2023. [Photo provided to China Daily]

An exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19 and will run until Jan 20.

Thirteen paintings by Sally Huang, a Chinese Panamanian artist and a doctor of art from Beijing Normal University, are presented at the exhibition, which combine the freehand brushstrokes of traditional Chinese paintings with the vibrant colors of Latin America, and present the zodiac animals in tropical forest settings.

Also on display are five sculptures of zodiac animals by Chinese artist Zhang Yong, who graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19, 2023. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The exhibition is included in the project Painting Our Canals, which is sponsored by the Beijing Culture and Arts Fund this year. The Beijing Culture and Arts Fund is a nonprofit fund founded by the Beijing Bureau of Culture and Tourism, that provides support in the three major fields of stage art, cultural exchange and the cultivation of art talents.

The lead institution applying for the Painting Our Canals project is Beijing Normal University, featuring a series of events themed on the canal culture in both China and Panama, including inviting artists from both countries to go on sketch trips together, as well as hosting academic forums and exhibitions.

Exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19, 2023. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Via these events, the project seeks to facilitate communication and mutual learning among Chinese and Panamanian cultural and art practitioners, and to further advance interpersonal exchanges between the people of China and Panama.

The opening ceremony was joined by representatives from both countries, including Wei Qiang, Chinese ambassador to Panama, Gabriel Gonzalez, vice-minister of culture in Panama, and Raffoul Arab, general manager of the Tocumen International Airport.

Exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19, 2023. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wei expressed his congratulations to the artists in his speech, while emphasizing that China and Panama should uphold the principles of openness, inclusivity, unity and cooperation, and work together to promote global peace and development.

As the Tocumen International Airport serves as a crucial transportation hub in Central America, the exhibition is expected to reach an audience of over 2 million people, according to the organizers.

Exhibition titled Symbiosis of the Chinese Zodiac opened at the Tocumen International Airport in Panama on Dec 19, 2023. [Photo provided to China Daily]