the United Nations Public Service Forum, Day and Awards Ceremony were held on from 24 to 27 June at Manama, the capital city of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Over 700 delegates including ministers, experts and public servant from 90 nations attended the event. Co-sponsored by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and China International Cultural Communication Center, the Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition opened at the Bahrain International Circuit, winning a lot of favorable comments from the international audience consisting of UN event delegates and visitors of various circles.
Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang addresses the Spotlight on Ink Art Exhibition held in Bahrain ( photo by Long Ren )
Spotlight on Ink—Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition was initially initiated by the CICCC in 2007, since then it has been held for five times respectively at the UN Headquarters, Thailand, India as well as Spain. This year in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the exhibition consisted of 70 artworks from more than 30 contemporary artists of China, ranging from landscape paintings, figure along with flower-and-bird paintings. Some are freehand brushwork paintings and others fine brushwork, all of which show the splendid charm of the long-standing Chinese civilization and its cultural heritage, presenting the world audience with the beauty of Chinese calligraphy and paintings, the delicacy and tenderness, magnificence and imposing allure possessed to impress and move all the visitors.
Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang presents Sheikh Ibrahim, consultant of the King of Bahrain, with gift at opening ceremony
( photo by Long Ren )
The opening ceremony of the Art Exhibition was held on 25th June, the United Nations high level official John-Mary Kauzya, consultant of the King of Bahrain Sheikh Ibrahim, China’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Bahrain Li Chen, representatives from the UNDESA, dignitaries of local and international governments, artists from China, overseas Chinese, international friends of the CICCC attended the function. Executive Chairman of the CICCC Mr. Long Yuxiang addressed the function, sharing with the audience the origin of the art exhibition. Back in 2007, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon visited China and met with the new leadership for the first time. During this trip, Mr. Ban showed great interest in Chinese culture. As the Secretary General of the UN, Ban expressed the hope that through the means of cultural communication, China would exert more power over international affairs in which the UN plays a leading role. The 2013 UN Public Service Day constituted a great platform for displaying the arts of Chinese calligraphy and painting which, over a prolonged period of time, have developed into unique forms of art to rival any in the world. It was for the first time Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition came to the Middle East, to the Kingdom of Bahrain in particular, to present the world audience with the landscape of China, the customs and the style and features of the its society. We hoped visitors to the exhibition would gain a better understanding about China, which is now developing rapidly and devoting herself to the world peace. At the same time, we also hoped that the Art Exhibition would open up a new window for cultural communication between China and the Middle East nations and the rest of the world. John-Mary Kauzya, Chief of Governance and Public Administration Branch of the UNDESA delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, saying that the Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition offered a rare chance for the international community and its original country to promote mutual understanding and enhance cultural exchanges. Culture forms the basis of creativity and advancement, therefore a prosperous culture and collective values guarantee the healthy development of technology and economic development. Kauzya expressed his gratitude towards the CICCC for organizing the wonderful exhibition and its long-term support to the UNDESA, its devotion to the cultural undertaking.
Group photo of Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang , UN Under-secretary-general John-Mary Kauzya, consultant of the King of Bahrain Sheikh Ibrahim, China’s ambassador to Bahrain Li Chen, Director-general of Publicity Department Xiao Ping ( photo by Long Ren )
Executive Chairman of CICCC Long Yuxiang presents international friends with Chinese paintings ( photo by Yuan Fan )
Overseas Chinese visit the exhibition ( photo by Yuan Fan )
Consultant of the King of Bahrain Sheikh Ibrahim attended and addressed the function, he said that the friendship between Chinese people and that of Bahrain is long standing and well established. Back to the Tang Dynasty, cultural and commercial intercourse between the two peoples had been carried out with the blessings of the Silk Road. The art of calligraphy and painting of China boasts extensive knowledge and profound scholarship, which never fails to allure the appreciators. The Art Exhibition organized by the CICCC had helped the people from the Middle East, particularly from the Kingdom of Bahrain to come to a better understanding of the ancient culture and splendid civilization of China, thus in turn effectively enhance the mutual understanding and communication between the two nations, which would make the friendship more sustainable than before. China’s Ambassador to Bahrain Li Chen also delivered a speech at the function, stating that this Art Exhibition gathered together artistic creations from more than 30 Chinese artists, which would open a window for appreciating the Chinese art as well as construct t bridge through which the peoples of China and Bahrain and the rest of the world communicate with one another. China and Bahrain has a time-honored friendship, various cooperation and exchanges in many fields between the two nations have been realized. Li believed that the exhibition would definitely contribute to the advancement of the friendship between China and Bahrain.
A continuous flow of visitors came to the exhibition ( photo by Yuan Fan )
At the same time, Under-secretary-general of the United Nations Wu Hongbo sent congratulations and thanks to organizer of the exhibition. He appreciated the successful organizing of the event and specially issued honorary credentials to the Chinese artists taking part in the exhibition.
The UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/277, designated 23 June as Public Service Day. It intends to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlight the contribution of public service in the development process; recognize the work of public servants, and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector. This year, the forum focused on the theme of transformative eGovernment and Innovation: Creating a Better Future for All. Various forms of activities, such as workshops and seminars have been carried out during the four-day event. Among them, Spotlight on Ink—2013 Chinese Calligraphy & Painting Art Exhibition added considerable Chinese-style freshness to the event. Its remarkable artistic allure was well received and widely appreciated by the people of Bahrain and delegates from all over the world.
Chinese artists communicate with international visitors on exhibited works ( photo by Yuan Fan )
Local art enthusiasts exchange views and practice calligraphy with Chinese artists ( photo by Yuan Fan )
Live demonstration by Chinese artists at the spot of the art exhibition attracts many international visitors ( photo by Yuan Fan )