electra-supply.comOn October 9, the “Romantic Planet: Marine-Technology” exhibition officially launched at the Digital Education Town in Changle, Fujian, marking a notable highlight of the China-France Digital Ocean Cultural Month. This exhibition showcases the creative outcomes of a collaborative project centered on marine research and artistic co-creation.
The 18th China-France Cultural Spring began back in April, and this exhibition stands out as a key feature of the event. Artists from both countries employed a variety of creative mediums—ranging from video and installations to sound, painting, and photography—to convey the cultural fusion stemming from maritime trade routes and its evolution into the digital age, ultimately promoting cultural exchange and collaboration between China and France.
After the opening ceremony, Charlotte Fréchette-Ishikawa, president of the National School of Fine Arts in Paris-Creteil (ENSAPC), delivered an inspiring keynote address titled “How the Digital Wave Prepares Students for Future Opportunities and Challenges.” In her speech, she emphasized the school’s integration of advanced digital technologies, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence into art education, illuminating the new frontiers and limitless potential that digital empowerment offers to the art community.
Supported by the French Consulate General in Guangzhou and the French Cultural Center, this initiative aims to bolster bilateral cultural exchanges and encourage collaborative artistic endeavors. Hikaru Shirakawa, cultural counselor at the French Consulate General, underscored the significance of artist residency programs in enhancing cultural dialogues between nations and crafting contemporary works that embody local characteristics.
As a key organizer of the China-France Digital Ocean Cultural Month, the Digital Education Town is leveraging the digital expertise of NetDragon and the infrastructure of the 101 Arts Trendy Play Center. Lin Tong, vice president of NetDragon and general manager of the Digital Education Town, expressed optimism that the town will continue to harness these advantages to reshape local culture, narrate compelling Chinese stories, and strengthen Sino-French exchanges.
The exhibition highlights creations from Chinese and French artists who engaged in residency research, delving deeply into Fuzhou’s local culture and the coastal area of Changle. The artists aimed to intertwine historical marine culture with innovative perspectives on technology and digital industries, resulting in a dynamic array of artistic expressions. These works, along with a selection of notable past pieces from ENSAPC, will be accessible to the public from October 9, 2024, to April 7, 2025, at the 101 Arts Trendy Play Center within the Digital Education Town.
The exhibition is co-organized by the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Administrative Committee of the Fuzhou New Area, and the Fujian Association for Cultural Exchange, with joint support from the French Consulate General in Guangzhou, the Paris-Creteil National School of Fine Arts, the Digital Education Town, and the Ygrec Art Center affiliated with ENSAPC.
