'2016 Happy Chinese New Year' launches in South Korea

Xu Bing's Square Word Calligraphy work Happy Chinese New Year. [Photo/Culturalink.gov.cn]

"2016 Happy Chinese New Year" launched in Seoul yesterday. The event features Chinese arts, folk music, opera, fashion, books and cuisine.

It includes: an exhibition of creative cultural products on the culture of Chinese New Year, a display of monkey-themed sculptures and lanterns, a show of writing couplets and auspicious characters in Chinese calligraphy, Xu Bing's Square Word Calligraphy exhibition, a Chinese intangible cultural heritages show, a Chinese publications display, a Chinese tea art experience and a creative show of Chinese opera actors and fashion models.

Made of modern materials, such as textiles, metal, ceramic and glass, the Chinese New Year-themed cultural products displayed are inspired by traditional Chinese folk custom, painting, and nature.

Chinese calligraphers were invited to write couplets at the event and visitors could get their works as gifts.

Chinese artist Xu Bing's original work Happy Chinese New Year in Square Word Calligraphy attracted a lot of attention. Based on English letters, Square Word Calligraphy rewrites English words by using Chinese characters elements. Each word looks like a Chinese character and can be read from left to right, upside to downside, inside to outside.

The event shows the works of intangible cultural heritage transmitters in China, such as paper-cutting, dough sculptures, embroidery and Chinese knots.

At the exhibition of Chinese publications, books and picture albums about Chinese culture and tourism were displayed. Visitors could read books at the exhibition.

In a "Chinese tea room", visitors can experience China's tea culture through tasting tea while listening to Chinese folk music. The Chinese fashion show of Chinese opera actors and models display figures of Beijing opera in their costumes.

With the support from the Ministry of Culture of China, the Chinese Embassy in Korea and the China Cultural Center in Seoul, China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG) and the Lotte Group in South Korea jointly sponsored the event. Cultural institutions, organizations and individuals from the both countries also participated in the activities.

The event will last until Feb 2.