The Confucius Institute at the University of the West Indies in collaboration with the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) presented the exhibition, “Chinese Calligraphy and Painting” at the Rotunda, National Library, Port of Spain, from September 23 – 27.

The exhibition, which was officially launched on September 23, 2014, showcased calligraphy and paintings by two visiting Chinese artists, Yang Chongguang (calligrapher), and Zhao Yanbin (contemporary artist).

Speaking at the launch, NALIS’ director, Educational Library Services Division, Catherine Romain said, “Libraries play an important role in bridging social and cultural divides in a contemporary global society.” She added that, “Through this exhibition and other creative expressions of people from different cultures, cultural diplomacy can be promoted and facilitated.”

Also speaking at the launch of the exhibition were Lan Heping, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; Dr Beverly – Anne Cater, Trinidad and Tobago, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine and the two distinguished artists.

Other programmes hosted by the Institute and NALIS featuring Chinese art were lectures titled, “The Fundamentals of Chinese Painting” (September 25) and “Chinese Calligraphy and Philosophy” (September 26). A class on calligraphy and painting was also held on September 27.