Seeking to cultivate fresh and artistic encounters, dialogues on environmental awareness, and enhanced understanding of cultural perspectives, respected Filipino and Chinese artists undergo an arts and cultural exchange program on September and October revolving around the theme entitled, "In Harmony with Nature".
The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The MET), in partnership with the Bank of China Manila, the Chinese Culture and Art Association, and the China Daily Mail proudly launches In Harmony with Nature, an international art project that engages ten artists from the Philippines and China to participate in a continuous dialogue on current cultural perspectives through a brief residency/visit of historically and culturally significant places that would juxtapose similarities and nuances of people, places and art expressions.
The arts and cultural exchange project between the Philippines and China is aligned with the museum’s international art residencies and exchange programs as well as shared goals of partners and institutions committed to bringing a meaningful meeting and dialogue of creative minds on various perspectives relevant to art, the environment, and the respective cultural landscapes that inform the people and societies not only of both countries, but of the world over today.
"In Harmony with Nature" brings to the fore what has always been the lasting presence of nature, as a universal inspiration and significant muse in art. Beyond serving as mere subject of artworks, it is in nature where the artists find intersections within their individual practices, a common ground where they can converse about their experiences and their sense of belonging. The 8-day residencies in China and the Philippines sets the artists in historically and culturally significant places: Liling, Hunan, the cradle of underglaze porcelain in China; and Flower Island, Palawan, a protected environment where precious South Sea pearls are bred and produced by Jewelmer.
"The Philippines and China have been friends for a long time," said Bank of China Manila Country Head Jun Deng. "We share many similarities, but we also share many differences. Through this art and cultural exchange program, we hope to bring creative and artistic minds and expressions together."
WATCH: Discover how a harmonious relationship between man and nature can produce these precious gems
Since 2002, Bank of China Manila has been working towards boosting bilateral cooperation in the economic, financial, and trade fields between China and the Philippines. From efforts like the SME Cross-Border Trade and Investment conference where Filipino businesses were matched with Chinese investors, to the facilitation of two panda bond issuances, the bank has been steadfast in pursuing its mission of bridging the Philippine and Chinese markets.
In facilitating these events, it was observed that interactions were not as smooth as participants do not understand each other that well. To address this concern, Bank of China went beyond bridging businesses. It also endeavoured to bridge the peoples of the two countries through a Culture Exchange Program. Through this exchange of cultures, the bank hopes to enhance the understanding between the peoples of Philippines and China. As a bank, Bank of China is in the business of trust and cultivating understanding between the peoples of China and the Philippines is critical to this. That trust will lead to a more harmonious and flourishing relationship and hopefully, it should aid in more successful business interactions.
