In this golden season of September, the 5th Beijing International Art Biennale (BIAB) under the theme of “Future and Reality” was staged in Beijing, capital of China. Gathering more than 700 paintings, sculptures, installations and video clips from 84 countries, BIAB, in combination of spiritual pursuit in the future and humanitarian solicitude in the reality, opens an art window to understand today’s world and construct for Chinese audiences a colorful art horizon that surpasses the reality and heads for the future. 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the Gothic architecture of Yale University, the song of thousands of years Everlasting Friendship in Han Dynasty was chanted around the huge dome of the concert hall. As part of China Today Arts Week, an art exchange brand event sponsored by CFLAC, performances and folk handicraft exhibitions have made this US Tour a success. Though this event might be a tiny drop of water in the stream of China-US cultural exchange history, it has brought about a tide to understand contemporary China among American audiences. 

In this edition, you will see how Nie Er’s songs were spread in USA and USSR, or how art elements in the neighborhood, church and school constitute the cultural structure of USA, a country without Ministry of Culture. Regardless of historic differences across 1000 years or geographic distances, so long as the cultural communication is enhanced, the cultural shock during exchange will be minimized. Similarly, “our world” and “the rest of the world” will be more and more integrated into a gentle river. As Mark Twain wrote in his book, “the surface of this river expands gradually like a big book… With more abundant contents than ever, this book of river is full of details, charm, and exciting cries”.