Director of Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy (Russia) met with Zhang Shisen, Director of People's Academy of Arts

December 28, 2018

On December 21, Director of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy Alexey Shaburov, Deputy Director Olga Shaburova and Deputy President of Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre Alexey Kharyutkin met with Zhang Shisen, Director of the People's Academy of Arts. Mr. Shaburov spoke about the Museum and its activities to prepare for the Great Chinese Calligraphy and Painting: One Belt, One Road exhibition, designed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relationships between China and Russia. The event, hosted by the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy, is scheduled between September 20 and 22, 2019.

The Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy was founded in Moscow on August 14, 2008. Its collection of works dating to the 20th and 21st centuries currently features 3900 masterpieces made by 447 calligraphy artists from 90 countries. The Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy partners with top global museums and museum associations (The Union of Museums of Russia, the International Council of Museums, the American Alliance of Museums), holding various joint exhibitions together. The Museum is widely recognized and supported by the international community, and some of its exhibits, such as the Handwritten Constitution of the Russian Federation, Tsar-Mezuzah, the Ten Commandments and many more, are truly unique. As a part of the International Exhibition of Calligraphy project, the Museum prepared and held 6 large-scale events, which drew a great response in Russia and were highly appraised by renowned calligraphers from all over the world. On top of it, the Museum hosts a school of calligraphy, much preferred by the locals, offering regular calligraphy courses and workshops.

2019 will celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relationships between the People's Republic of China and Russia. Our countries, connected through an integrated strategic partnership, actively develop cooperation in many domains. As a part of One Belt, One Road initiative, the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy proposed the exhibition named The Great Chinese Calligraphy: One Belt, One Road. Leading state agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, the Federation Council, the Council of Culture in State Duma, the embassy of the People's Republic of China in Russia, the Russian-Chinese Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development, the Chinese Cultural Centre in Moscow, and many more, officially support this cultural project. The exhibition will put on display the best examples of the art of calligraphy from China. The leaders of our countries have announced 2018-2019 as the years of the interregional cooperation, and this initiative proves that both Russian and Chinese leadership have incentives to expand cultural exchange and cooperation as a matter of national importance. The Great Chinese Calligraphy: One Belt, One Road exhibition in Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre in Moscow is scheduled for September 20-22, 2019, and is on the list of the official events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relationships between Russia and the People's Republic of China. An exhibit hall with an area of 3500 sq.m. will display 300 masterpieces of calligraphy and painting. The exhibit promises to become a true “cultural feast” for all connoisseurs of calligraphy.

The delegation of the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy, led by its Director, Alexey Shaburov, highly appraised Zhang Shisen’s works. Mr. Shaburov invited Mr. Shisen to join the exhibition as a guest of honour and present his works in person. Also Mr. Shaburov expressed his hope to include Mr. Shisen’s works in the permanent exhibit of the Museum and the State Registry of the Russian Federation.