2012 Contents Preface / P_05> Overview / P_07> SICA Profile / P_13> Cultural Performances and Exhibitions, 2012 / P_17> Foreign Exchange, 2012 / P_35> Academic Conferences, 2012 / P_51> Foreign Visits & Receptions, 2012 / P_63> Summary of Cultural Exchanges and Foreign Visits, 2012 / P_73> List of Council Members / P_81> 「Untitled I」(detail) Reinhold Egerth From The Origin of the Dimension: Shanghai International Printmaking Exhibition 2012 Preface The snugness of sunshine in the winter day rings in the coming New Year… In 2012, under the leadership of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and with the concern and support of the entire community, Shanghai International Cultural Association (SICA) has made new progress in enhancing the influence of Chinese and Shanghainese culture, as well as in improving Shanghai’s international image by sharing local culture with foreign countries through non- governmental communications. Over the past year, with the help of governmental departments at all levels, collaborating units, cultural institutions, and friends at home and abroad, SICA has conducted with success a considerable amount of international cultural exchanges. On behalf of all my colleagues in the Association, I extend my sincerest gratitude for their concerns and support. As we bid farewell to the old year, we recall the achievements of the past and greet a new spring, which promises a bright future. We have compiled in this annual report the successes and achievements of the past year, with a hope that our joint efforts in the coming year will produce another great success. Yan Limin Executive Deputy Secretary-General Shanghai International Culture Association December, 2012 「Figure Ⅳ」Ding Liren From Exhibition of Art in Contemporary Shanghai 2012 2012年报 Overview Annual Report PART1 1 Overview The year 2012 witnessed the successful convening of the 18th National Congress of the CPC. It was a crucial year for the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan. Under the leadership of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and its Publicity Department, Shanghai International Culture Association (SICA) hosted, co-hosted, or provided support for more than 50 exchange programs. Of these programs, over 40 were cultural and artistic events. The rest related to humanities, social sciences, economics, finance, natural sciences and technology. Over the past year, SICA has received no less than 40 delegations that contain around 300 internationally and domestically renowned public figures, specialists or scholars. SICA’s excellent work over the past year has added luster to Shanghai’s cultural achievements. I. Chinese Culture Exhibited Glamour Overseas In 2012, SICA more actively shared the charm of Chinese culture with the rest of the world. Through better preparation and a more active effort, it greatly enhanced the influence of Chinese culture on the international community. Responding to hot issues of global diplomacy and key points in international communications, SICA made great effort to conduct cultural exchanges, and to introduce the best Chinese culture to the world. SICA arranged to send a folk music orchestra from High School Affiliated to Shanghai Theatre Academy to the 3rd “International Children and Youth Music Festival” in Iguazu, Argentina, after its successful presence at the Festival in 2011. The organization committee, delegations from various countries, and the Argentinean people sang high praise for the melodious Chinese classical film music performed by the young Chinese musicians. The eye-catching exhibition “Modern Chinese Calligraphy: Works by Gu Gan and Pu Lieping” was unveiled on Sept. 26 in the Spanish museum Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM, Valencia Institute of Modern Art). The exhibition received favorable coverage on Spanish national television. Mr. Yan Limin, Deputy Secretary- General of SICA, attended the unveiling ceremony. With a flawless combination of color and line, bold strokes and blank space, passion of aesthetic experience and symbol of Chinese character, the works exhibited obtain strong visual impact and perfect P_08+09 Overview expression, forcefully striking a responsive chord in the hearts of visitors and journalists. Spectators in Columbia and Cuba were charmed by the elegant and exotic works of art at the exhibitions named “Life: Paintings by Young Artists in Shanghai.” The exhibitions were hosted by a Chinese delegation headed by Mr. Ding Honggen, Deputy Secretary-General of SICA. The exhibitions held in both Columbia and Cuba filled a gap in cultural communications between SICA and the two countries, laying solid foundations for its broader cultural cooperation and exchanges with South American countries in the future. In the cities of Hamburg, Germany and Athens, Greece, SICA and Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles (SFLAC) co-hosted a weeklong cultural event named “Shanghai Horizon.” As part of the events for the “Year of Chinese & German Culture,” it featured the exhibition “Dimension of Ink: Invitational Exhibition on Shanghai Contemporary Ink Paintings.” In Yeosu, Korea, SICA and Information Office of Shanghai Municipality jointly unveiled a photography exhibition titled “Glamorous Shanghai, Splendid Expo.” It represented the splendor of World Expo 2010 and the glamour of Shanghai as a modern metropolis. II. Music Demonstrated Refined Taste To make Shanghai more of an international cultural metropolis, SICA made fully use of people-to-people cultural exchanges. It organized a wide range of artistic performances, actively enhancing Shanghai’s cultural image. These efforts have popularized art appreciation, enriched people’s cultural lives, and promoted friendly communications and mutual understanding between the Chinese people and the rest of the world. In April, SICA, SMG Art & Humanities Channel, the Publicity Department of the CPC Changning District Committee and the Changning District Bureau of Culture co-organized “World Music Shanghai 2012 (Spring)”. From Oct. 18 to 24, SICA repeated its success with “World Music Shanghai 2012 (Autumn): Romantic Huangpu River”, demonstrating its continuing commitment to serving the public. The audience gathered in Lujiazui, the financial center of Shanghai, to enjoy excellent performances of famous bands like Panjir (China), Buyi (China), BYGA (France), Noukilla (Mauritius) and Fingertips (Portugal). The bus tour brought music like pearls of dew, which cleansed and refreshed the concrete jungle of the city. “World Music Shanghai” has become one of the important cultural festivals, providing a brand new platform for musical and cultural communications between China and the rest of the world. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Korean diplomatic ties, the Pusan Philharmonic Orchestra from Korea gave a concert on Aug. 5 at Shanghai Oriental Art Center. The audience spoke highly of their expressive and skillful performance. 2012年报 上海市对外文化交流协会 Shanghai International Culture Association ANNUAL REPORT Annual Report PART1 1 III. Art Exhibitions Presented Variegated Splendor The traditional cultural and art exhibitions that SICA have held properly reflected China’s national conditions with a unity of philosophical and artistic connotations. On this basis, SICA introduced more exquisite art works to China in the year 2012, and held successfully a series of exhibitions of works by world-renowned artists. These exhibitions won remarkably high praise from the visitors. To celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Australian diplomatic relations, SICA organized an exhibition called “Fantastic Dreamland: Exhibition of Contemporary Australian Photography” at Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. The surrealist works of Sonia Payes and Jane Burton have a timeless appeal, transporting visitors to a mysterious world in which they could have dialogue with their deepest feelings. The exhibition “Tony Cragg: Sculptures and Drawings”, jointly hosted by SICA, the Cultural and Education Section of the British Consulate-General Shanghai and Shanghai Zendai Himalayas Art Museum, was unveiled as the first exhibition at the museum. The exhibition was part of a larger series of events in the project “UK Now”. SICA had a successful collaboration with British Consulate-General Shanghai and Himalayas Art Museum, promoting people-to-people cultural communications between Shanghai and the rest of the world. “The Origin of the Dimension: Shanghai International Printmaking Exhibition 2012” was another unique international exhibition hosted by SICA at Shanghai Art Museum. Having their artistic origin in the form of woodcut, a total number of 52 printmaking artists from over 10 countries, including China, US, UK and Germany, presented their works. Their variations, innovations and combinations with modern art forms have created something truly new and exquisite on the basis of a traditional art form. IV. Academic Exchanges Spurred Development Drawing on its capability of conducting broad-range exchanges, SICA initiated academic communications in various fields, including science, technology, economics, finance, the humanities and social sciences. Consequently, SICA not only facilitated Shanghai’s economic growth, but also promoted its international communications and helped attract talent. Furthermore, it also provided numerous proposals to spur economic growth and social development in the city. In Shanghai, SICA hosted an international Symposium “Exogenous and Endogenous