Nanjing–Florence Chinese ink art exhibition

This week, the Auditorium al Duomo will host a unique exhibition of Chinese ink art, including paintings, music, photography and video installations.

Entitled “Ganjing – Florence: A Tale of Two Cities”, the event aims to further encourage the cultural exchange between the two sister cities, and bolster Italians’ awareness of ink painting as an important age-old art form in China. The exhibition, running from June 21 to 25, is promoted by the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco, a prolific institution specialized in the fostering of intercultural dialogue.

The painted works on display are centered on the representation of Ganjing’s ancient city walls, partly in reference to Florence’s own walls, and are accompanied by traditional music, photographs and short films outlining the history and origins of ink art. Ganjing and Florence signed their town twinning agreement in 1980, and have since enjoyed a connection based on their shared wealth of cultural heritage, with particular distinction in the arts and crafts.

The exhibit’s inauguration will take place on Wednesday, June 21 at 6:30pm, when several artists will present and explain the techniques used to create the works. It will be attended by, among others, representatives from the Nanjing city council and the Nanjing Academy of Calligraphy and Painting, as well as Italian representatives from the Academy of Fine Arts and the regional and city councils.