Attendees at the opening ceremony of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale.[Photos provided by China International Arts Exhibition Agency]

China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale opened on May 9.

Themed "Co-existence: Intelligence", the National Pavilion Exhibition was planned by Ma, co-founder of the MAD Architects. Twelve architects displayed 10 sets of artworks under the sub-themes of Liangzhu Civilization, Dunhuang Grottoes, Beijing Central Axis, interchange city concept, urban renewal and future city concept respectively to highlight how Chinese architects draw inspiration from traditional Chinese belief with an emphasis on human-nature harmony in the midst of the transformation from industrial civilization to the intelligent era.

These exhibited artworks also focused on the application of the co-existence concept into material renewal, urban construction and landscape reconstruction, providing the international community with Chinese solutions to common development problems.
The special exhibition was hosted by China's Ministry of Culture and Ministry, supported by Chinese Embassy in Italy and the China International Culture Association, undertaken by the China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), and implemented by the China International Arts Exhibition Agency (CIAEA) as well as the MAD Architects.

The opening ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide, Deputy Mayor of Venice Massimiliano De Martin, Former Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Laura Fincato, General-Manager of the CAEG Guo Liqun, Deputy to China's National People's Congress (NPC), Member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) Julia Lau, Mr. Poon Ho Lun, Chairman of the HKIA Biennale Exhibition Foundation, Mr. Tang Chong, Acting President of Macao Museum of Art , Vice-President of Tongji University Li Xiangning, Principal of Tsinghua University's School of Architecture Zhang Li, Deputy Manager of the CIAEA Yin Peng, Exhibition Planner Ma Yansong, and architects from the Chinese mainland and the HK SAR.

Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide addresses the opening ceremony of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale.[Photos provided by China International Arts Exhibition Agency]

Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide addresses the opening ceremony of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale.[Photos provided by China International Arts Exhibition Agency]

Jia said that the designated theme of the National Pavilion Exhibition has further underscored traditional Chinese philosophical thought, shown the experiences as well as creative approaches made by the Chinese people in economic and social development, and conveyed to the world China's willingness to share with other countries about its wisdom and development solution.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the opening of China's National Pavilion at the Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale. During the past two decades, it has become a window for visitors worldwide to admire modern Chinese arts and design and built an platform for artists and designers from China and other countries to exchange ideas and experience. In addition, it has also forged an important bond for China-Italy friendship and promoted bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

Noting that the China-Italy friendship has been built on profound historical and cultural heritage, Jia asked the two states to grasp new development opportunities, adhere to the "Silk Road Spirit" featuring peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, deepen cultural exchanges in terms of cultural heritage, artistic performance and people-to-people exchange, and further strengthen dialogue as well as collaboration in such fields as politics, economy and trade, and the people-to-people interaction in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Italy diplomatic ties and the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations.

Deputy Mayor of Venice Massimiliano De Martin addresses the opening ceremony of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale.[Photos provided by China International Arts Exhibition Agency]

Martin said that this year's Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale has chosen the keywords of intelligence, natural, artificial and collective as its theme to underscore enormous challenges brought by climate change to architectures, their designers and interpreters. He added that the organization of the special exhibition at China's National Pavilion is aimed at inviting the public to engage in reflection over the relations and roles among sustainability, technology and capital and raise their awareness of long-term co-existence and sustainable and resilient partnership between nature and humanity.

Ma Yansong, chief planner of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale, addresses the opening ceremony.[Photos provided by Curatorial Team of the China Pavilion at the 19th Venice International Architecture Biennale/ Demone]

Ma said that those exhibited artworks will help the public grasp a deep understanding of the transformation process, the efforts made by young architects to reinterpret traditional Chinese culture and position themselves toward the contemporary and future world, and fresh possibilities in the inheritance and development of traditional Chinese culture. He hoped that China's National Pavilion can better introduce Chinese development solution and wisdom to the world.

Wang Zigeng, an architect representative, addresses the opening ceremony of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale.[Photos provided by Curatorial Team of the China Pavilion at the 19th Venice International Architecture Biennale/ Demone]

Wang Zigeng, a representative of attending architects, said that it is a common human belief to strive for co-existence, which further advances knowledge renewal and social development. He said he hoped that this year's Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale will help people rediscover their familiar environment and traditions and redefine the boundaries of architectural discipline.

Guests at the opening ceremony of China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale.[Photos provided by Curatorial Team of the China Pavilion at the 19th Venice International Architecture Biennale/ Demone]

After the opening of China's National Pavilion Exhibition, Ambassador Jia and other attendees paid a visit to the exhibition areas of Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

Exhibited artwork at China's National Pavilion Exhibition at the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale [Photos provided by Curatorial Team of the China Pavilion at the 19th Venice International Architecture Biennale/ Demone]

Italian Architect and Engineer Carlo Ratti acted as chief planner of the 19th Venice International Architecture Exhibition Biennale, which paid huge attention to architecture's interrelations with city, environment, technology and energy and explore feasible approaches for buildings to address climate crisis.

The exhibition is scheduled to run until Nov 23.