Marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between China and Mexico, 2007 has seen a series of
colorful and exciting cultural and artistic performances by Chinese
artists, such as the "Experience China in Mexico" events and
several major Chinese shows during the Cervantino Festival in
Guanajuato in October.
During the "Experience China in Mexico" festival, which ran from
July 20 to Aug. 18 in Mexico City, about 23,000 people watched four
major Chinese shows in the City Theatre and in the city's central
square, the Zocalo, according to the local culture department.
The shows, "My Dream", "Shaolin Kung Fu", "Heavenly Beauty of
Chinese Music" and "Traditional Clothing and Formal Dress from
Chinese Dynasties and Ethnic Minorities," attracted great interest
from the Mexican audience, offering them a glimpse of a totally
different and fascinating culture by way of music, action and
fashion shows.
The festival "was an excellent experience and a magnificent
opportunity to reevaluate the culture of that country (China),"
said Elena Saenz, director of the city's People's Cultures Museum,
which hosted the China Craft Treasures exhibition.
While Mexico City hosted China's traditional culture shows, the
Oct. 3 to Oct. 21 Cervantino Festival in the central city of
Guanajuato showed off the charm of China's contemporary culture,
performed by Jilin Song and the Dance Ensemble, the Chinese
National Ballet, the Beijing Modern Dance Company, the National
Theatre of China and the Sichuan Puppets Group. The festival also
hosted the 50-piece Contemporary Chinese Ceramics Show and the
Chinese Shadow play for Mexican children.
Some 180 tons of equipment were shipped to Mexico in six
containers for the show.
"We overcame the language barriers with subtitling. There were
memorable presentations which those of all sensibilities enjoyed,
because the language of art is universal," said Cervantino director
Mini Caire.
"The Guanajuato shows were a rich and representative selection
of China's current art: that of a millennia-old country going
through thousands of changes while fighting every day to preserve
its traditions," she added.
According to Mexican art experts, 2007 is a model year in
China-Mexico cultural relations, with some 700 Chinese artists
having passionately showcased their work in various Mexican cities,
helping the Mexican people to get to know more about ancient and
modern China.
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(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2007)