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Technically, a work of art and technology

Technically, a work of art and technology

Updated: 2012-04-24 07:08

By Chen Nan (China Daily)

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Corporate design and beauty will be merged during project in Beijing

The marriage of corporate design and art will be the theme of a week-long project in Beijing as artists try to turn technical products into objects of beauty.

Zcontemporary, the Chinese subsidiary of German heating technology manufacturer Viessmann, are behind the project, Embedded Creation, in the capital's 798 art district.

Instead of scientists and engineers, the event, which opens on Saturday, will see a handful of artists from China and Germany, including Miika Benedetti, Ingo Bulla, Chen Kun and Feng Lianghong, who specialize in ceramics, photography, video art, painting, sculpture and installation.

They will conjure up works linking West and East, and cast a new light on the transformation of a technical product into an abstract piece of art.

"The dialogue between corporate design and art contributes to forming an identity and gives it strength. That's what we want to show our audiences through this event," says Cui Qiao, the director of the event which will help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sino-German diplomatic ties.

Nearly 200 young, pioneering Chinese artists will have a June exhibition in Berlin, called China New Design. With designs ranging from clothes, furniture, and accessories to architecture and multimedia works, the exhibition will showcase original Chinese design to the German public.

"This is not your average cultural exchange. There are no traditional acrobatic troupes presenting their classical programs. There are no performances from students or professional artists, which are presented solely for officials," Cui said. "Everything will be contemporary, avant-garde and relate to audiences in Germany."

To help celebrate the anniversary, a Chinese Culture Year was launched in Germany. The yearlong event focuses on the history of Chinese art and culture.

Yu Long, a 48-year-old musician who studied at Berlin University of the Arts, will cooperate with the Munich Symphony Orchestra, performing an adaptation of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler's The Song of the Earth, by Chinese composer Ye Xiaogang and Chen Xiaoyong on May 18.

"We want the audiences to know what Chinese music is like today and what Chinese musicians are thinking today," said Yu, who also conducted the China Philharmonic Orchestra at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture Year in Berlin.

Mahler based his work on seven Tang Dynasty poems after reading The Chinese Flute, translated into German, in 1908.

Mahler was attracted by the vision of Earthly beauty expressed in the verses and chose seven to set to music.

In 2005, almost a century after the debut performance of Mahler's version, Yu and the China Philharmonic Orchestra invited Ye to recreate The Song of the Earth using the same texts. Yu also invited two German singers to perform the new version of The Song of the Earth in Chinese.

In addition to musical events, more than 1,500 artists and scholars will attend events celebrating Chinese culture in Germany.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn