『Notes』| Confidant in hometown, silk road to spread friendship

My indissoluble bond with Chinese artist Lin Baogang, 

a story I have to tell

Xi 'an in China is my first hometown. I used to be a table tennis player and coach from Shaanxi Province. In 1987, I led the Chinese Youth National Team to defeat the Swedish team represented by world champions Waldner, Perssen and Linde 3-0 in the final of Budapest International Open in Hungary. The then world champion Sweden was very famous. In the middle of my life, I moved to The Netherlands because I was hired by the Netherlands National Table Tennis Association to teach. Although I was far away from home, I could never forget my hometown. In the autumn of 2016, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Professor Lin Baogang, Vice chairman of Shaanxi Artists Association, dean of Art College of Xi 'an University of Architecture and Technology, at the Xi 'an Silk Road International Art Festival. From then on, we started our friendship for nearly 6 years.

Propaganda and comment about me is: Amity between the peoples holds the key to state-to-state relations, and amity between the peoples lies in mutual understanding. In the exchanges between China and the Netherlands, there is one name that stands out, that is Li Jishu, who is from Dangxiang of Shaanxi province. Since 1995, I have been working in China and the Netherlands as well as China and Europe to promote friendly exchanges between governments, enterprises and folk. I have facilitated a series of exchange and cooperation projects involving cultural relics, culture, sports, economy, trade and technical cooperation. I have played an active role in promoting the friendly relations between Shaanxi Province and Groningen province and Drenthe Province of the Netherlands, between Xi 'an city and Groningen city, and between Shangluo city and Ermen City. As a native of my hometown, I became familiar with Professor Lin and had more frequent cultural exchanges between China and the Netherlands. I deeply felt the personal charm and artistic attestation of Professor Lin Baogang through more contacts. As the general director of silk Road Art Festival, one of the two major international art festivals in China, he has demonstrated extraordinary organizing and curating abilities in the exhibition activities! I was deeply impressed by his tolerance, sagacity, approachability and ability to deal with urgent matters. In the 2019 exhibition, 60 Netherlands artists' works sent to China met great trouble in customs clearance. Due to the lack of experience of The Netherlands side in the delivery of works, the works could not be discharged for nearly two months at the Customs in Qingdao, China. At that time, it was only seven days before the opening of the Silk art exhibition in Xi 'an, and domestic customs officials had already offered to return the works to the Netherlands. Professor Lin, as the chief curator, and the Netherlands artists were very anxious, and I felt even more frustrated and helpless, because I was a lucky person with an excellent reputation in the communication process between China and the Netherlands in various fields. However, I felt that I had come across an impossible obstacle. If I could not get out of the customs smoothly, it would cause a lot of bad influence in the Netherlands. I could hardly sleep at night, and even called Professor Lin every day. It was he who sought help, worked and made contacts in all aspects in the country, and always insisted and encouraged me, while making careful arrangements in every detail. I would also like to thank Mr. Wen for what he has done in Qingdao. I was in tears when I heard over the phone that the works would pass through customs. I am thankful that I have so many good friends to help me through that difficult time. Luck fell on me again. In the short five years of organizing international art exhibitions, Professor Lin has attracted more than 100 countries and more than 1,000 artists to participate in the exhibition, and the number of participating countries in three times is more than 100. Artists from 122 countries have participated in the event, making important contributions to the international promotion and communication of the Silk Road Festival. Another is professor Lin Baogang's artistic attainments in urban sculpture, his large city sculptures are all over dozens of cities in China. I was deeply impressed by the greatness and grandeur of the 28-meter-high statue of Lao tze, which was created in Hangu Pass where the Tao Te Ching was wrote by Lao tze, a philosopher of The Spring and Autumn Period of China. Back in the Netherlands, I happened to see the reports of Lao tze sculpture on several Netherlands TV stations, from which it is easy to see the international influence and wide recognition of Professor Lin's art, as well as the academic level of his sculpture art! In the 2019 Silk Road International Art Festival, I and many artists from Holland and other countries were invited to visit the Shaanxi Historical and Cultural Celebrity Sculpture Park participated in the design by Professor Lin for Baoji, China. It was even more shocking! The two large-span pure stone archway buildings of more than 70 meters have become the largest pure stone archway buildings in the world. Standing at the entrance of the whole sculpture park, it is extremely spectacular. Walking into the park, I was impressed by 34 groups of sculptures representing Chinese historical celebrities born in baoji area during the 5000 years. During the Silk Road Festival, more than 100 artists from more than 60 countries came to Baoji Sculpture Park for a visit and gave high marks. 

I visited the exhibition with Professor Lin Baogang.

I took photos with professor Lin Baogang and related artists.

In 2018, I visited shaanxi Historical and Cultural Celebrity Sculpture Park with artists from home and abroad.

Mr. Tom Hageman, chairman of the Netherlands ‘International League of Fine Art Schools’ and secretary of the ‘Classical Art Center’ foundation (former president of the Groningen Academy of Classical Arts, painter, and senior art critic) watched the dozens of historical celebrity sculptures he created for Baoji, China. After the solo exhibition of watercolor works in the garden and Xi'an Jiufang Art Museum, he praised me many times, and wrote the following art review after returning to Xi'an: " Mr. Lin Baogang has a large number of urban sculpture works and watercolor works, the artistic creation style is distinct, the works are rich in layers, and the themes are prominent. Especially the portrait sculptures of historical celebrities, showing the vigorous, solemn, and atmospheric of the oriental art shape, with a strong sense of art. It has a good conception and overall combination and rigorous. The sculpture park he created for Baoji, China is one of the three major themed sculpture parks created by one artist in the world, which fully demonstrates the artistic attainments of Professor Lin Baogang and the hard work for his profession. Achievements. The understanding of light and the rich modeling in watercolor works of art have sculptural rigor and heaviness. In the expression technique, we can see the shadow of the famous German artist Dürer. From this, we can see the skilled and rigorous Chinese artists. The realistic modeling ability and the vigorous vitality of artistic creation, especially the sincerity and dedication to the pursuit of art”. He also expressed his willingness to plan and hold a personal sculpture exhibition for Professor Lin in the Netherlands, and has been actively working on the implementation of relevant matters, so as to spread the works of outstanding Chinese artists to the Netherlands. 

Mr. Tom Hageman and Professor Lin Baogang in front of Lin`s works.

I visited and communicated with Professor Lin Baogang and Mr. Tom Hageman.

I took photos with Professor Lin and Holland artists in front of historical celebrity sculptures.

In the follow-up communication, I saw more urban sculptures created by Professor Lin, and felt his artistic innovation concept and artistic responsibility in urban sculpture creation. His silk Road themed sculpture Silk Road Chang 'an fully embodies the beautiful meaning of "success" by Chinese people with its beautiful shape. It was given to the Saudi Ministry of Culture as a fine work of art on behalf of the ministry. At the same time, this work was also exhibited on tour in Holland and presented to Groningen provincial government as a government gift on behalf of Shaanxi Province for preserving forever. It has been collected by many artists. Especially in the delegation to visit the Netherlands famous modern sculpture master Eddy Roos (masters rodin sculpture teaching students) museum, the master gave high evaluation to rush professor works and the collection of his works. With the years of communication, we have not only become close friends with Professor Lin, but also have a feeling with the countryside, and have a common language in artistic and cultural exchanges. In the follow-up exhibition planning, I invited a number of famous Netherlands artists to participate in the International Art exhibition of China's Silk Road Art Festival. At the same time, as the curator of the Netherlands National Exhibition in 2019, I was also fortunate to hold a special exhibition of Netherlands national art works at the Silk Road Festival and tour several venues in China. In particular, I invited Netherlands artists to Xi 'an, and they marveled at Chinese culture and development. These art exchanges show the friendship between China and the Netherlands. In addition to the Silk Road Festival, we are also conducting more extensive art exchange visits between the two countries. At the same time, we also invited several outstanding artists represented by Professor Lin Baogang from silk Road International Art Festival to visit The Netherlands for in-depth exchange. Their works were exhibited in four cities for half a year. With the development of exchanges, I am also making efforts to permanently place the sculpture of Silk Road Chang 'an created by Professor Lin Baogang in the Chinese Garden in Groningen province, which reflects the culture of the Tang Dynasty of China, as a historical witness of shaanxi Province of China and Groningen Province of The Netherlands. Although the Silk Road Festival only lasts for 15 days each time, its influence and future will never end. It is hoped that it will become an influential art festival in the world one day. In culture and art exchange between the two countries of the future, is also looking forward to renew the silk road of friendship, the culture and friendship between the two countries. We should learn from each other's civilizations, exchange cultures, share beauty with each other, and tell the stories of our two cultures well.

Li Jishu 2021.12. In Groningen, The Netherlands

(Note: I want to be an artist for artists!)

Photo of artists at the 6th Silk Road International Art Festival in 2019

I co-hosted the opening ceremony with Professor Lin and Mr. Tom Hageman.

1. 2018  As a national gift to the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Ministry of Culture of China ; Collection

2. 2017  Austrian Association for the Promotion of Cultural Exchange ; Collection

3. 2018  Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; Collection

4. 2021  Embassy of the Republic of Korea ; Collection

5. 2019  Korean Artists Association ; Collection

6. 2019  Korean Peace Artists Association ; Collection

7. 2018  Academy of Classical Art, The Hague (NL) ; Collection

8. 2018  University of Ljubljana, Slovenia ; Collection