On Feb 18, a Spring Collection Exhibition opened at the Shenzhen Urban Planning and Contemporary Art Museum, bringing a touch of spring to the residents of the city. At the same time, as a key player in external cultural exchange, the China Cultural Group's Southern Headquarters officially settled in Shenzhen, marking the beginning of a new chapter in spreading Chinese culture and telling Chinese stories in the Greater Bay Area.

The China Cultural Group brought sixteen exquisite works by modern Chinese masters to the "Spring News - Spring of Modern Chinese Masters" collection exhibition at the Shenzhen Urban Planning and Contemporary Art Museum. The opening ceremony was lively and harmonious, filled with a sense of spring. Notable attendees included Xue Lijun, deputy general manager of Bauhinia Culture Holdings Limited, Zeng Xianglai, executive deputy minister of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee Publicity Department, Huang Wei, secretary of the Futian District Party Committee, and other officials from various districts.

During the opening ceremony, Guo Liqun, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of the China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd. (CAEG), expressed that the establishment of the Southern Headquarters carries the important mission of promoting Chinese culture and cultural exchange. With a professional team and top-notch production capabilities, the group hosts various performances and exhibitions in dozens of countries and regions, spanning over 200 cities, attracting a total audience of 10 million people annually. In 2024, the group launched multiple high-quality projects in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including performance and exhibition brands like "National Style and Charm along the Fragrant River" and "More Beautiful Today" exhibition brand. These cultural activities aim to enhance cultural integration and innovation in the region.

In the future, the Southern Headquarters will use this Spring Collection Exhibition as a starting point to focus on Shenzhen, radiate throughout the Greater Bay Area, and search globally. By organizing various high-quality cultural activities, they aim to present more outstanding Chinese cultural works to the world, tell Chinese stories, and promote cultural exchange and integration.

Zhao Zhijun, Chairman of the Visual Arts Committee of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, mentioned in his speech that the China Cultural Group has garnered wide acclaim in the cultural and artistic fields over the years. With a sense of mission, responsibility, and professional strength, the group has organized various cultural brands and activities in Hong Kong and Macao, building bridges for cultural connectivity in the Greater Bay Area. The Hong Kong art community welcomes more cultural exchanges in the region and is confident in contributing to the flourishing development of the cultural industry and the inheritance and innovation of art.

Curator Luo Yi introduced during the tour that the tribute of Chinese painting to spring has a long history, evolving from the poetic descriptions of plants and trees in the Book of Songs to the elegant and dynamic lines of the Sui and Tang dynasties, the ethereal charm of the Song and Yuan dynasties, and the emotional expression of the Ming and Qing dynasties, culminating in the diverse and prosperous artistic atmosphere of modern and contemporary times.

This event, as the first activity in Shenzhen following the establishment of the CAEG's Southern Headquarters, holds great significance. With abundant resources and a professional team, the group carefully selected sixteen works of spring-themed praise by fourteen modern art masters from north to south. Additionally, contemporary floral arrangements by Gu Yu and Yunnidi were specially invited to complement the masterpieces, allowing the audience to encounter art and beauty in secluded paths. The participation of Zhou Yue'en and the interactive designer Xiao Shengyu, based on the original works of the masters, immerse the audience in a wonderful world where art and nature blend seamlessly. Ink art is no longer confined to paper; it has become a cultural link connecting countless households. This cross-temporal and cross-disciplinary dialogue vividly reflects the cultural integration of the Greater Bay Area - constantly innovating in heritage and giving birth to new creations through collisions.

In this exhibition, Qi Baishi's vivid lotus and playful shrimp, Wu Changshuo's incorporation of gold and stone, Wu Guanzhong's depiction of a modern city flourishing by the mountains and sea, and works by other masters such as Chen Banding, Li Kuchan, Zhu Qizhan, Lin Sanzhi, Qian Songyan, Zhao Puchu, Xie Zhiliu, Tian Shiguang, Guan Shan Yue, and Yu Jigao vividly interpret the vitality and energy of spring with their unique artistic languages, weaving a colorful picture of 20th-century ink art in spring.

Notably, this exhibition includes a charitable component. The Golden Wings Foundation selected several "Spring Odes" themed paintings by autistic teenagers, displayed alongside the masterpieces. Three autistic teenagers attended the exhibition, showcasing their lifelike reproductions of the masterpieces. Zhang Junru, Chairman of the Golden Wings Foundation, expressed the hope that through cultural and artistic initiatives in the field of public welfare, more teenagers with special needs can receive education and step onto broader stages. Leveraging the exquisite skills and influence of art masters, they aim to promote greater attention and understanding from society towards this group. At the event, visitors also showed particular interest in titanium cups and thermal cups made from the paintings of autistic children by the Jinglulu brand, offering a new direction for autistic children with artistic talents, which is highly meaningful.

The exhibition will run until March 7 and is open to the public for free. Citizens are welcomed to visit the exhibition at the two venues in Shenzhen, immerse themselves in the rainwater of the Yi Si year, paint the Year of the Snake, and experience the power of nature's growth in this spring feast.