National style, national trend, and international style—a hundred flowers bloom at the CIIF to demonstrate China’s cultural soft power
Shenzhen, May 25th: National style, national trend, international style - a hundred flowers bloom at the Cultural Expo to demonstrate China's cultural soft power
Shenzhen, this vibrant city of innovation, will once again become the focus of global culture in May 2024. The 20th China International Cultural Industry Expo and Trade Fair was held grandly at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 23 to 27.
After 20 years of development, the exhibition scale, number of visitors, and degree of internationalization of cultural fairs have continued to increase. This year's CIIF showcased the national style, national trend, and international style to audiences at home and abroad, and demonstrated to the world the diverse charm and vitality of China's cultural soft power.
At the CIIE, national style elements are everywhere, including not only creative products that intertwine classical and modern styles, but also a deep integration of traditional culture and modern technology. Visitors can see many national-level intangible cultural heritage projects and intangible cultural derivatives at the Expo, and experience first-hand the latest practices in promoting the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage.
On the opening day, the Zhejiang Pavilion became a popular check-in point at this CIIE. Young actors Chen Lijun and Li Yunxiao from the Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Theater appeared in red and white costumes and performed excerpts from the Yue Opera "Butterfly Lovers", appropriately expressing the friendship between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. The audience was packed with people and applause continued.
Entering the Hubei Pavilion, the audience can hear the melodious "Song of the Yangtze River", which is a "glockenspiel harmony" that spans thousands of years and is played by two musical instruments from Hubei, a replica of Zeng Houyi's bells and the Yangtze River piano. Voice.
Stepping into the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Time-honored Brands, and Arts and Crafts Exhibition Hall of the International Cultural Expo, calligraphy, painting, and paper-cut arts blend with modern design concepts. Traditional crafts have gained new vitality through innovative packaging. In the intangible cultural heritage exhibition area, the audience stopped to admire the handicrafts that carry historical memories and feel the cultural roots of the Chinese nation.
In recent years, traditional culture and oriental aesthetics are being transformed into specific brands and products with the help of modern industry, technological power and multicultural integration, promoting the development of "new national trend" culture. This CIIE is an important stage to showcase Chinese brands and cultural confidence.
The "Art·Design·National Trend Exhibition" organizes art, design, cultural and entertainment, art education and other institutions and enterprises to participate in the exhibition, focusing on displaying and trading the latest artworks and creative designs launched by well-known domestic art and design institutions, cultural and creative enterprises, and Internet cultural and entertainment enterprises. Products, national trendy IP and products bring unique trendy art experience to the audience.
Oil paintings, ink paintings, sculptures, calligraphy and seal cutting... The exhibition area is full of trendy brand clothing, national fashion digital products, creative stationery and other exhibits rich in Chinese elements, reflecting the ingenious fusion of tradition and fashion. From Spring Festival couplets lucky bags, "national trend" blind boxes to antique-themed markets, these creative products not only satisfy consumers' pursuit of a better life, but also demonstrate the innovative power of Chinese designers and brands to the world.
The number of participating countries and regions in the 20th CIIE has increased from 50 to 60, the number of countries and regions visiting, exhibiting and purchasing has reached 108, the international exhibition area has increased to 20,000 square meters, and the number of overseas buyers has increased from 20,000. to 30,000. The international "circle of friends" of CIIF is constantly expanding.
This year's CIIF will set up an international cultural trade exhibition for the first time. The Russian Artists Association, the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce in the UK, the Kumamoto Prefectural Crafts Museum in Japan, and the Spanish Trade Association participated in the exhibition. The Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany traveled across the ocean and made its debut at the fair with featured books. Through online simultaneous exhibitions and breaking geographical boundaries, the Expo allows culture lovers around the world to participate in this cultural feast.
2024 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of sister-city relations between Shenzhen and the City of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. The Mayor of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, led a delegation to participate in this CIIF. He said that the CIIF, which integrates traditional culture and technological innovation, is unforgettable. He hopes that both parties will promote cultural tourism, technological innovation, economic and trade investment, etc. Strengthen cooperation and create a better future together.
After twenty years of glorious history, the CIIF not only witnessed the vigorous development of my country's cultural industry, but also became a vivid footnote to the improvement of the country's cultural soft power. On this stage full of "national style, national trends, and international style", every exhibit and every activity is a teller of Chinese stories, conveying China's cultural confidence and open attitude to the world.
