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| Vincenzo Sanfo in China |
| Visit
of Famous Art Curator to China Vincenzo Sanfo is the President of the Cultural Center of Italy. He is a curator of great international exhibitions of art and the Overseas Curator of the First Beijing International Art Biennale. He and his wife arrived in Beijing on April 23, 2003 to discuss the arrangements, which have been made for the First Beijing International Biennale. He also discussed inviting specially invited artists and the international promotion of the historic First Beijing International Art Biennale. Mr. Sanfo founded the Cultural Center of Italy both in Turin and in Rome and has been designated President. He has planned and participated in many important international art activities as well as collaborating with the Venice Biennale and Venice Film Festival since 1988. He has initiated and organized many artists’ solo exhibitions including: Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, Mero, Chagall, Baselitz, Rainer Fetting and Enzo Culchi etc. In view of his experience and influence in international art circles, the First Beijing International Art Biennale Organizing Committee requested him as the only Overseas Curator through our Embassy to Italy. He is mainly responsible for recommending and contacting some occidental artists. At the time Mr. Sanfo visited China SARS was serious, but he demonstrated that he would give first priority to the First Beijing International Art Biennale. He believes that the Chinese government can control SARS, can overcome it and that the First Beijing International Art Biennale will be held punctually and efficiently. In the period Mr. Sanfo visited China, his activities were intense and varied. He met with the Chief Curators, presented meetings, was interviewed by reporters; he also visited the China National Museum of Fine Arts and the Art Museum of the China Millennium Monument, which were have all been reconstructed. He praised the exhibition sites highly and believes that they have reached an international level. Mr. Sanfo has been preparing the press conference of the First Beijing International Art Biennale. The press conference will be held at the opening ceremony of the Venice Biennale in June 2003. At that time, there will be more than three thousand reporters in Venice from all over the world. This is a favorable chance to expand the international impact of the First Beijing International Art Biennale. Chief Curators of the first Beijing international Art Biennale Jin Shangyi, Liu Dawei and Feng Yuan congratulated Ms. Sanfo for the active and effective work so far. Liu Dawei and Curator Tao Qin presented albums and souvenirs in the name of the Chinese Artists Association. During the meeting Liu Dawei addressed Mr. Sanfo as “comrade” to symbolize that Mr. Sanfo has a high sense of duty and enthusiasm for international communication and Chinese artistic development. It also showed the high degree of friendly cooperation between the Chinese and foreign Curators. Out of respect for the health of Mr. Sanfo and his wife at this special time, the First Beijing International Art Biennale office decreased the number of meetings and lectures that had been planned for them. From Beijing Mr. Sanfo left for Ji’nan to be present at the opening ceremony of the Exhibition: “Mimmo Rotella Art Exhibition”. Mimmo Rotella is an Italian new realism artist. Mr. Sanfo returned to Italy on April 30th. Jin Shangyi, Liu Dawei and Feng Yuan Met With Vincenzo Sanfo
Jin Shangyi, Liu Dawei and Feng Yuan also introduced to Mr. Sanfo the developing situation of Chinese art and Chinese oil painting. Jin Shangyi said: “an important aspect about Chinese modern art is learning from west. Nowadays many youths study oil painting; Italy is the source of oil painting and is an important base of study. China and the Occident have formed two cultural systems in the world, and so we should combine studying the occidental method with maintaining Chinese spirit.” Mr. Sanfo believes that the main reason that some young Chinese artists have effect in the world is their works have Chinese traditional spirit. Vincenzo Sanfo Was Interviewed by “Art Sky” and “ Art Appreciation”
Reporter: As a famous international art curator and the organizer of the Venice Biennale, how do you regard the significance and the effect of the First Beijing International Art Biennale? Mr. Sanfo: Planning and organizing the First Beijing International Art Biennale is a good idea. From my understanding, the First Beijing International Art Biennale has aroused interest and concern in artistic circle all over the world. It is not only a good chance for Chinese artists but also an intercommunicating platform for artists all over the world; furthermore, the First Beijing International Art Biennale will be a center of international art, because artists from the west will comprehend the development of oriental art through the Beijing International Art Biennale. If the First Beijing International Art Biennale can be held successfully, I think it will match up to the famous Venice Biennale and will become to oriental Venice Biennale. Reporter: You are requested as Overseas Curator of the First Beijing International Art Biennale, what do you think about inviting famous international artists? Would you please introduce the situation as it appears now? Mr. Sanfo: I have sketched out a list. I hope the Exhibition can include famous and representative artists from western countries. It was agreed by the First Beijing International Art Biennale Organizing Committee. After I contacted these artists directly, they are all interested in it. They all believe the First Beijing International Art Biennale will have historic significance and are pleased to participate in it. Some of artist’s works will be created for the First Beijing International Art Biennale, another works will be magnum opus, including Neo-Expressionism, Neo-Fauvism, new realism, Transavant-garde etc; Ms. Sanfo also will invite some active young artists in the occident to participate. The aim is to exhibit the whole historic developing procedure of art since the Second World War, including from Pop Art to new realism up to today. In this exhibition may have works including both artists like Floyd and young artists like Jeff Koons. At the same time, an outstanding part is that there will be South American artists in this exhibition. Some South American artists have been leading artists and some will probably become leading artists, so the whole list contains the development and current situation of occidental art, as well as art with South American characteristics. The Exhibition will clearly show painting is a world language and is a convenient way of communication. I think through the First Beijing International Art Biennale artists all over the world can freely express their own concept. It is also the best way that people from every country can acquaint and promote each other through cultural intercommunication. Those works manifest daily life and express different thought and feeling of every native artist. This is the most natural and actual intercommunication. I hope that more Art Biennale can be held successfully. Reporter: Would you please talk about the works and the effect of Chinese artists in the West? Mr. Sanfo: Many international exhibitions including the Venice Biennale all pay attention to the actuality and development of young artists in China. Collectors all over the world especially occidental collectors all show concern for Chinese young artists’ works. China has long cultural tradition, but at the same time has experienced change and development. At present there are many young artists in China who are engaging in the development of modern art. Grand China modern art exhibitions have been held in Berlin, Paris, Italy and USA. The work of young Chinese artists is worthy of praise and recognition in terms of quality and creativity; their work has great significance on the work of occidental artists. They affect each other; the work of western artists is also useful and helpful to Chinese artists. Reporter: Would you please talk about your expectations for the First Beijing International Art Biennale? Mr. Sanfo: The First Beijing International Art Biennale will be a good chance for the oriental and the occidental artists to intercommunicate; it is the place that oriental and occidental art meet. I think at present the preparatory work of the First Beijing International Art Biennale is successful and it has many strong points. First, the First Beijing International Art Biennale is the only one Biennale held in the capital of a country, Beijing is a very cosmopolitan city encompassing traditional culture and modernization. Beijing also is a city has important effect and situation, so the First Beijing International Art Biennale will be a great international art exhibition with historic significance. It has been proved by numerous participants especially leading artists. Secondly, the two exhibition sites are excellent choices. The China National Museum of Fine Arts and the Art Museum of the China Millennium Monument are both high-class galleries in the world. I feel as an organizer, I shoulder heavy responsibilities. The sense of duty and mission make us to work hard to accelerate the comprehension between oriental artists and occidental artists. I believe that the Beijing International Art Biennale will become better and better in the future. Vincenzo Sanfo had an informal discussion with some of the Curators
When a Chinese Curator asked Mr. Sanfo what was the most successful experience of the Venice Biennale. Mr. Sanfo said that it was mainly dependent on publicity. More than three thousand reporters will attend this session of Venice Biennale. It will be advertised wildly. The informal discussion also discussed the opening ceremony, giving awards after panel discussion and the symposium etc at the First Beijing International Art Biennale. Vincezo Sanfo Attended International working meeting about the First Beijing International Art Biennale In the afternoon of April 24th, Mr. Sanfo the Overseas Curator of the First Beijing International Art Biennale had an international working meeting with Chinese Curator Wang Yong, Tao Qin. They further discussed and decided the list of specially invited international artists. Mr. Sanfo introduced the work experience of inviting international leading artists previously; he had recommended and contacted about forty occidental artists. There are nearly twenty international artists among them including Italian artists: Enzo Cucchi, Francesco Clemente, Sandro Chia; German artists: Anselm Kiefer, Rainer Fetting; American artists: Julian Schnabel, Jeff Koons, Andrew Wyeth; English artists: Anthony Cragg, Lucian Freud; Colombian artists: Fernando Botero; Spanish artists: Antonio Lopez Garcia, Antoni Tapies etc. They are all enthusiastic about the First Beijing International Art Biennale. Mr. Sanfo has done much work to arouse the internationalism and technicality of this session of Biennale. Mr. Sanfo said that he is going to USA and UK to meet with some of their leading artists. He also introduced the operating experience of the Venice Biennale, especially about reward and assessment. He said that the Italian President or Chairman usually attended the opening ceremony of the Venice Biennale and personally handed awards to artists. The meeting also discussed the number of the works of specially invited artists; international transportation; insurance of the works; compiling, designing and publishing the album of paintings; preparing press conference during the First Beijing International Art Biennale etc. |
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