by InTrieste
In anticipation of the Chinese New Year ushering in the Year of the Dragon, the Civic Museum of Oriental Art (located at Via San Sebastiano 1) played host to the grand opening of the “Trieste Chinese Week 2024.” The event saw the inauguration of the photo exhibition titled “Beijing: The Colors of Metamorphosis in an Album of Early 20th Century Italian Photographs,” on display until Saturday, February 10. Concurrently, a series of cultural events will also unfold at the Civic Theater Museum Carlo Schmidl (Palazzo Gopcevich, Via Rossini 4).
The event was graced by the presence of notable figures such as Culture and Tourism Assessor Giorgio Rossi, sinologist and president of the Cultural Association New Silk Roads Xu Gao, Francesca Avignone, the curator of the Civic Museum of Oriental Art, and Simone Starc, the volunteer curator of the “Trieste Chinese Week 2024” project.
Assessor Giorgio Rossi remarked, “The Municipality of Trieste, in collaboration with the Cultural Association New Silk Roads, holds significant ties built on the values of friendship and mutual respect. These bonds stem from the historical presence of the Chinese community in our city, which enriches Trieste’s cultural and productive landscape. It’s particularly meaningful to host this presentation at the Civic Museum of Oriental Art, as it epitomizes a hub of culture.” Assessor Rossi also extended his well wishes, especially to the children and youths of the local Chinese community who were present in substantial numbers.
Professor Xu Gao later elucidated on how Trieste represents a unique case in Italy regarding the dissemination of Chinese language and culture.
The Photo Exhibition
The Municipality of Trieste, in collaboration, presents the photo exhibition “Beijing: The Colors of Metamorphosis in an Album of Early 20th Century Italian Photographs,” curated by the Cultural Association New Silk Roads of Trieste. The exhibition will run until February 10 (from 10 am to 5 pm, admission free) in the two exhibition halls on the ground floor of the Civic Museum of Oriental Art (Via San Sebastiano 1).
The exhibition comprises around twenty photographs, offering visitors a glimpse into early 20th century Beijing, seemingly distant yet vividly alive in the forms and colors for which it is recognized today. The journey begins where the 2020 edition of the “Trieste Chinese Week” photo exhibition left off, titled “The Dragon’s Head: The First Bricks of the Great Wall in an Album of Early 20th Century Italian Photographs.”
Starting with the Ancient Astronomical Observatory built in 1442 (Ming Dynasty), the itinerary proceeds to illustrate the coexistence of places of worship: a Confucian temple, a Christian church, and a Buddhist pagoda. Subsequently, visitors encounter glimpses of the Forbidden City, constructed between 1406 and 1420 (Ming Dynasty), and the Summer Palace, where the emperor spent summers amidst bridges, arches, and boats. The journey culminates at Deshengmen, or the “Gate of Virtuous Triumph,” one of the few remaining gates of the capital’s walls. Some black and white photographs are juxtaposed with modern versions of the same locations, captured in color shots, showcasing Beijing’s numerous transformations.
Guided Tours
Additionally, a program of guided tours is scheduled for the public and students of Chinese language classes at ISIS Carducci – Dante. Reservations are required to participate (email: info@nuoveviedellaseta.com; phone: 388 8783798; tour cost: 3 euros per person; duration: approximately 90 minutes). All tours will be led by Professor Gao Xu, president and sinologist of the New Silk Roads Institute, and will take place at the Civic Museum of Oriental Art (Via San Sebastiano 1), encompassing both the photo exhibition and the museum, as follows:
Saturday, February 3 (10:30 am, 12 pm, 3 pm) Sunday, February 4 (10:30 am, 12 pm, 3 pm) Monday, February 5 (3 pm) Tuesday, February 6 (3 pm) Thursday, February 8 (3 pm) Friday, February 9 (3 pm) Saturday, February 10 (10 am, 11:45 am)
Events at Schmidl Museum
Further initiatives will unfold in the Bobi Bazlen Hall of the Civic Theater Museum Carlo Schmidl (Palazzo Gopcevich, Via Rossini 4). Reservations are required to participate (email: info@nuoveviedellaseta.com; phone: 388 8783798). The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, February 6, and Thursday, February 8, at 5 pm: Conference “Tea Ceremony and Chinese Musical Instruments: Admire, Taste, Listen” Admission: 10 euros per person Duration: approximately 120 minutes A tea ceremony will be presented, with tastings of various Chinese varieties, alongside a musical demonstration of select pieces played on the guzheng, an ancient Chinese zither.
Friday, February 9, at 5 pm: Conference “Traveling in China! Geography and Its Breathtaking Landscapes” Admission: free Duration: approximately 120 minutes The topic of traveling in China will be explored, including its UNESCO heritage sites and the richness of its landscapes. Updates introduced in 2024 regarding travel permits and required documents for access will also be discussed.
