On October 21, 59 selected paintings of Swiss landscape by 12 famous contemporary Chinese traditional painters, namely Qin Zhigang, Liu Dawei, Wu Changjiang, Cui Xiaodong, Wang Hongjian, Zhao Wei, Chen Hui, Chen Ping, He Jialin, Zhang Jie, Tang Hui and Liu Zhong, were displayed in Rongbaozhai Art Gallery, which indicated that “Alps in Ink and Brush—Selected Contemporary Chinese Traditional Paintings Exhibition” unveiled its mystery. This exhibition was jointly sponsored by China Artists Association (CAA), Rongbaozhai Art Gallery and Alps Ink and Brush Foundation of Switzerland. On the opening day, Zhao Shucong, head of State Forestry Administration, Qin Zhigang and Zuo Zhongyi, vice presidents of CFLAC, Xia Chao, member of Secretariat of CFLAC, Liu Dawei, vice president of CFLAC and president of CAA, Wu Changjiang, vice president of CAA, Pascal Couchepin, ex-president of Switzerland, Jacques de Watteville, Swiss ambassador to China, Gérald Imfeld, president of Alps Ink and Brush Foundation of Switzerland as well as distinguished guests from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Council Information Office, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and some Foreign embassies in China attended the opening ceremony. 

This year is the 62th anniversary of China-Switzerland diplomatic relation establishment, and friendship has lasted persistently for more than half a century. Alps Ink and Brush Foundation of Switzerland is active in promoting in-depth exchange between art circles of the two countries. At its invitation in April, Chinese artists delegation headed by Qin Zhigang and Liu Dawei paid a visit to Alps Swiss region for art exchange and on location sketch experience. Generally speaking, all the participant artists resorted to soft brush, ink and paper to present European expressions in heavy snow, forest, hill and ancient castle with their utmost enthusiasm. Though their painting styles vary, they all demonstrated the very Chinese paintings’ spiritual essence and formality inherited from tradition in their works. Their fresh vision with elegance interest provides a unique aesthetic experience, which is not only the artists’ hearty expression in a foreign country, but also profound reflection and active practice over the difference and integration of Eastern and Western art ideas.