A new chapter in art exchanges in the Global South
By Wu Lujun - BFM
22 September 2025
On 5 September 2025, the National Museum of Culture and History in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, ushered in a significant cultural event - the "China-South China Art Academic Symposium and Exhibition of Chinese Contemporary Art". The event was guided by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, and co-sponsored by the China Artists Association, the South African Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture, and the South African National Museum of Culture and History.
More than 100 people attended the event, including representatives of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, some well-known South African artists, representatives of the South African National Arts Council, members of the delegation of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Artists Association, well-known people from all walks of life and media.
The works on display are selected from the 14th National Art Exhibition, including some gold, silver and bronze awards of the "China Art Award" and a total of 40 selected works, covering Chinese painting, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor pastel painting, lacquer painting, mixed material painting and other paintings.
Art as a bridge to connect civilizations and learn from each other
At the opening ceremony, Ambassador Wu Peng said that the event based on the China - South Africa perspective of artistic exchange and cooperation in the Global South, provides new opportunities for cooperation between the cultural communities of the two countries. Over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation have always been an important part of exchanges between the two countries. It is hoped that the writers and artists of the two countries will take the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as a new starting point to promote deeper people-to-people cooperation between the two sides.
Ms. Mohabi, CEO of the Ditsong Museum Group in South Africa
In her speech, Ms. Moleboheng Mohabi said that South Africa and China are both members of the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism and should continue to expand cultural exchanges and artistic cooperation within the framework of the mechanism to build a bridge between the peoples. On behalf of the Ditsong Museum in South Africa, she warmly welcomed Chinese artists and related groups to visit South Africa for cultural activities and continuously promote the spiritual dialogue between the two peoples.
Qu Jian, Secretary of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association
Qu Jian pointed out that the works in this exhibition focus on the diverse explorations of Chinese artists in themes, forms and languages in the past five years. The works are based on real life, integrating tradition and innovation, reflecting the style of the times and the independent aesthetic pursuit of artists. The successful holding of the exhibition also marks the official realization of China's national art exhibition to cover five continents. It is hoped that the art circles of the two countries will contribute more strength from the field of art and humanities to maintain the diversity of world civilizations, practice the Global Civilization Initiative, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Frank Teichert of the National Museum of Culture and History of South Africa
Acting Director Frank Teichert said that South Africa is a "rainbow country" where multiculturalism coexists, always cherishing cultural exchanges with China. This exhibition provides South African audiences with an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese contemporary art, and further strengthen professional exchanges and understanding between the art communities of the two countries.
Exhibition view: Diverse themes reflect the times of China
The South African attendees savored the in-depth thinking of nature and life, history and reality through the shapes and colors. South African artists, curators, and scholars admired the bright expression style of the works, which not only show the superb skills and profound traditions of Chinese art, but also truly feel the life and emotions of contemporary China and see a real, three-dimensional and developing contemporary China. Many viewers showed keen interest in the works in the exhibition, which blended traditional ink painting with contemporary concepts, considering it an enlightening cultural practice.
South African audiences explore and appreciate the exhibition
Academic Dialogue: Art Empowers the Livelihood of the Global South
After the opening ceremony, artists and scholars from China and South Africa gathered to hold a conference with the theme "China - South Africa brings together the arts exchanges and cooperation of the Global South - China-South Africa Art Academic Symposium and Dialogue.
Qu Jian first reviewed the results of the exchanges between the China Artists Association and the South African art community, and emphasized the importance of the China-South Africa Art Dialogue in deepening relations between the two countries and promoting mutual learning among civilizations in the Global South. He introduced the China Art Association as an authoritative art organization in China, with the help of the "China Art World Tour" and "Beijing International Art Biennale "Overseas Training Project for Young and Middle-aged Artists in China", and actively promotes international art exchanges, and has held many exhibitions and academic seminars in South Africa, such as in Johannesburg in 2019 "Art and Peace - Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition" and the Central and South China Art Symposium.
Qu Jian pointed out that art exchanges have become an important way to promote the symbiosis of civilizations, and the China Artists Association will continue to strengthen cooperation with South Africa in the future, deepen mutual learning among civilizations, and write a new chapter of friendship.
In his speech, Professor Ding Ning emphasized the importance of inclusive art education. He pointed out that art education can not only activate and enhance the creative potential of recipients and improve good psychological quality, but also strengthen identity and sustainable development, confirming that the inclusiveness of art education is becoming a trend in this era and an important force to promote social equity and sustainable development. Therefore, how to achieve high-quality inclusiveness of art education is an opportunity and challenge faced by countries in the Global South.
Professor Fang Xiaofeng shared a number of cases of art exchanges and mutual learning between China and South Africa from the perspective of art history and contemporary practice. He mentioned the profound influence of African art on Western modern masters such as Picasso, as well as the indirect absorption of African elements in Chinese contemporary art. He believes that artists from both countries face the challenge of finding a balance between traditional and contemporary, local and global, and this is what dialogue and collaboration are all about.
In their speeches, South African artists highly appreciated and evaluated the artistic level and creative strength of Chinese contemporary art, believing that some works are conveyed through the artistic conception of landscapes." The philosophical view of "the unity of nature and man", some reflect the fate of individuals in social change with urban themes, and some explore the boundaries of form and spirit in abstract language, which is deeply inspired by it, and also expresses its feelings. Thinking about the country's art system and the hidden worries of artists' living conditions, I hope that the development experience of Chinese art can learn from it, and hope to carry out dialogue with the Chinese art community in traditional and emerging art fields such as ceramics and AI digital art. Qu Jian further said that the China Artists Association will work with the South African art community to build a higher quality platform.
A new picture of the culture of the Global South
This exhibition and dialogue is not only an important moment for art exchanges between China and South Africa, but also a useful practice of cultural cooperation among countries in the Global South. It vividly shows that art does not need translation, but it can reach people's hearts; Although civilizations are different, they can coexist harmoniously. As South Africa's national poet laureate Keoropatse Kgositsile said: "Our roots draw nourishment from different wells, but our leaves share the breath of the same gust of wind." China and South Africa, as well as all countries in the Global South, are using art as a medium and mutual learning among civilizations as the path to jointly draw a new picture of world culture that is diverse, inclusive, and beautiful.
*The exhibition will run until 5 October 2025 and is open to the public free of charge.