Our programme was built around two epoch-scale art exhibitions in the biggest museums of Beijing, taking viewers on a journey across the history of Polish art, from Medieval sculpture, through 19th-century painting, to new works from today’s top visual artists. The first of them, Treasures from Chopin's Country prepared by the National Museum in Warsaw, opened on 6th February in the National Museum of China. Almost 350 pieces of old and contemporary art were presented in a huge 2000m2 space. Afterwards, from 11th May until 22nd June, visitors in the National Art Gallery in Beijing were able to see an exhibition entitled State of Life, prepared by the Art Museum in Łódź and featuring the most prominent pieces of recent Polish art.
Polish cultural programme in China also featured a series of events related to music, film and theatre. The first Chinese tour by the renowned Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra, including a concert in the prestigious National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and a series of recitals and chamber concerts delighted classical music fans. In February, Polish pianist Beata Bilińska performed in Beijing and Wuhan, while in April both cities hosted concerts of the Arte dei Suonatori and Octava Ensemble orchestras, specializing in baroque and renaissance music. Theatre lovers had the opportunity to watch the new production by the great master Krystian Lupa, who made a splash in Tianjin in 2014 with his Persona. Marilyn. His latest work Woodcutters, winner of the 2014 Divine Comedy Theatre Festival in Kraków, was staged in Beijing and Tianjin in May. At the end of July, Michał Zadara presented his version of a Polish classic – Forefathers' Eve by Adam Mickiewicz in the Beijing People's Art Theatre. Finally, a can't-miss event was the Polish focus at the Beijing International Film Festival – the biggest ever selection of Polish films at a festival in China. The viewers had the unique opportunity to see not only the Polish cinema classics, presented in the programme Martin Scorsese Presents - Poland, but also the latest Polish film productions.
The season of Polish events in China closed with the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra playing pieces by Polish composers. This time the concert took place in the prestigious Beijing Concert Hall and the programme included music by Lidia Zielińska, Wojciech Blecharz, Tadeusz Wielecki, Piotr Roemer, Jarosław Siwiński and Paweł Heindrich composed for the FCCO.
The program was prepared by Culture.pl in cooperation with the Polish Embassy in Beijing and our great Chinese partners: the venues and festivals.
Report of the events organised by Culture.pl in China in 2015
Culture.pl in China 2015 - events: