May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 22: China has changed is a living reality but how much was showcased Wednesday evening at the simultaneously sturdy and beautiful National Art Gallery.

The astonishing ‘Showcases of a New China’ celebrated the 57th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan on May 21 of this year. It also commemorated 30 years of reform and opening-up policy’s implementation in China.

Showcasing historical transition, the romantic and nostalgic architectural wonders, cultures, atmospheric landscape images as well as dramatic moments of disaster, the array of photographs activated among visitors — a glamorous blend of diplomats and locals — the belief that photographs tell a full story, where words are sometimes at a loss.

Developed and carefully framed aesthetics in three days, the collection honoured the memory of the recent earthquake victims in Sichuan province.

The event began with a minute’s silence for the approximately 40,000 who died in the tragedy. And words of condolences by the Chinese ambassador Luo Zhaohui and National Assembly speaker Fehmida Mirza set a sombre tone.

Merging art and defining aspects of lives of the Chinese people, some 170 mostly coloured and some black and white photographs decorated the walls of galleries 7 and 8.

Entering the gallery, the first images visitors encountered were poignant and emotive photographs of earthquake victims — a survivor slumped to his knees after losing his family; parents struggling to come to terms with the disaster helping their injured son and the Chinese president visiting earthquake affected areas to offer his condolence to the affected people and give instructions for their rehabilitation.

Remembering yesteryears, black and white photographs of establishment of Pakistan-China Association on March 20, 1979 and another capturing Vice Premier Deng Xianping shaking hands with Gen Ziaul Haq also hung in juxtaposition with works identifying vast holdings of the Chinese nation.

The display showcased China, ready to host the 2008 Olympic Games, the quiet interaction of civilisation and wilderness, environmental reverences, day to day activities of rural areas, an embroidery class at the Youth and Children Activity Centre, the waist drum play of Bai ethnic group, Muslims from Xinjiang praying during the mid-summer day, dances of Xibo ethnic group, the world’s first Buddhist forum held in China to pray for global peace, the water splashing festival of the Dai ethnic group, a wedding scene, Tibetan dance, the Great Wall stretched out in all directions, besides scenes of love, art and night glimpses of Shanghai.

Earlier self-taught artist Nina Amin donated a large format calligraphy art work to the National Art Gallery in a simple but impressive ceremony at the gallery on Wednesday.

The artist was represented by her sister as she herself could not be present at the donation as the artist was organising a ‘Pakistan Art and Calligraphic Exhibition’ at the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh from May 21 to 23. Princess Johara bint Sultan bin Fahd is expected to open the exhibition.

Federal Secretary for Culture Shahid Rafi, while welcoming the donation, said Pakistan’s true image should be portrayed by artists to the people of the world.