Yvonne Cecilia seemed to be enchanted by the embodiment the concept of harmony in China's contemporary artistic works, which have found a good showcase at the ongoing 2nd Beijing International Art Biennial held in China's capital and also at the 16th IAA general assembly held in Hefei.

"Harmony is China's philosophy of life, and art is integrated with life for the Chinese people," said the Mexican sculptress.

"We admire China's development and its opening to the rest of the world, and we don't think it's a threat. Maybe it's a kind of challenge promoting international competition," she added, in high spirit while strolling in a special art exhibition during the 16th General Assembly of International Association of Art (IAA), which is being held in Hefei, the capital city of east China's Anhui Province.

Cecilia said it's very important for global artists to attend this assembly, which is hosted by China for the first time. Here artists from over 80 countries around the world communicate with each other with their works instead of words. "This is a kind of universal expression that can link the whole world together," she said.

Participants in this international art conference have been fascinated by the aura of harmony and peace in Chinese fine arts. They said their understanding about China has deepened through the ongoing artistic exhibition and meeting.

Mr. Kan Irie, who is a painter and chief delegate of Japan to the IAA, is an expert at western oil painting and also loves traditional Chinese painting. He said, "Chinese art stresses the harmony between Man and Nature, which is an important part of China's traditional culture."

Speaking of China's development, he said, "It's not strange that a country undergoing rapid development may make other countries feel uneasy more or less."

"China is now in such a situation, and it should enhance positive publicity to reduce some misunderstanding about it. China should let more foreign people understand that peace and harmony are the quintessence of traditional Chinese value."

The value has been passed on from generation to generation and been developed for several thousand years. Confucius held that peace is the best option, and emphasized that various social problems should be handled in a peaceful and coordinated way. Mencius also said, "opportunity is important of all, even more so is geographical convenience, but most important of all is popular support, which demands harmonious and concerted efforts by men." 

Over 400 years ago, the famous Italian missionary Matteo Ricci, carried out a 30-year-long research on the theory of Threat from China in its initial form. Finally, he drew a conclusion that China was a country based on agriculture, and was contented with everything of its own. Even the purpose of army was for the consolation and showing off of the power of monarchy rather than invading other countries.

His conclusion found proofs in voyages of Chinese navigator Zheng He in the 15th century, which had no territory demand, and in the Great Wall, which was actually a structure for purely defensive purpose and of symbolic rather than practical significance.

Today, the Chinese Government also pursues the spirit of peace and harmony in its foreign and domestic policies. China is devoting itself to building a harmonious society, and to developing friendly relations with all other countries loving peace.

In fact, the philosophy of harmony and peace can be sensed in almost any piece of traditional Chinese art works, said Zhang Song, Secretary General of the Artist Association of Anhui Province. He noted that traditional Chinese painting stresses harmonious character, coordinated and balanced composition, and simple but elegant coloring. These are quite different from some western styles of art, which pursue rich colors so as to create a powerful vision.

It is the second time for Pons Vatel, a female French painter, to visit China. She likes Chinese ink and wash. She said, "Harmony and peace are not only very important in China's history, but also have become the most important thought for both east and west, yet we have different way to approach it."

"China is not a threat. We have to find an equilibrium between western and eastern mentality," she added.

The 16th General Assembly of International Association of Art held from Sept. 23 to 25 attracted around 1,000 artists from over 80 countries and within China, among which many are the world's most prestigious painters, sculptors and art critics.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2005)