Water Wisdom from East to West: Helping Europe Understand Chinese Water Culture

pubdate: 2026/6/16   author: zjam  source: zjam  click:

At 5 p.m. local time on June 12, 2026, the exhibition “The Realm of Clarity: Ecological Foresight and Civilizational Exchange in Oriental Wisdom” opened at Pulchri Studio in The Hague, the Netherlands. Co-hosted by the Embassy of PRC in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, and Pulchri Studio, and organized by ZJAM, this exhibition centers on the “water culture” and features 24 pieces (sets) of works by 14 contemporary Chinese artists, presenting profound Eastern reflections on ecology and civilization.

Ambassador Shen Bo of China to the Netherlands (third from left) and Yu Jian, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of PRC in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (fourth from left), touring the exhibition

About 150 distinguished guests attended the opening ceremony, including Shen Bo, Ambassador of China to the Netherlands; Ed van der Kooy, Chairman of Pulchri Studio; Yu Jian, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of PRC in the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Pieter van Geel, former Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands; Ying Jinfei, Director of ZJAM; He Qiuping, Chief Auditor of Bank of China (Europe) S.A.; Shao Qing, President (Designated) of Bank of China Rotterdam Branch; Ji Dong, Head of Corporate Sales, China Mobile International (UK) Limited, as well as representatives of some diplomatic missions and international organisations based in the Netherlands, and professionals from Dutch and Chinese business and art circles.

Ed van der Kooy delivering a speech

At the start of the opening ceremony, Ed van der Kooy extended his gratitude to all the guests and expressed great honour to host this high-calibre exhibition.

Ambassador Shen Bo of China to the Netherlands delivering a speech

In his speech, Ambassador Shen Bo of China to the Netherlands  noted that the exhibition highlights ecological philosophy and the wisdom of cultural exchange embedded in Chinese culture. For thousands of years, the Chinese people have upheld the vision of harmony between humanity and nature. Blending traditional cultural elements with contemporary artistic expressions, the exhibited works inspire reflection on sustainable development and shared responsibilities of humankind. Ambassador Shen Bo emphasized that art serves as a bridge that transcends language, borders, and traditions, and affirmed China’s commitment to openness, inclusiveness, and active international cultural cooperation. He extended special thanks to the delegation from the ZJAM for bringing the exhibition to The Hague, as well as to Pulchri Studio and its sponsors for facilitating a profound dialogue between Eastern aesthetic wisdom and Western contemporary art.

Ying Jinfei, Director of ZJAM, delivering a speech

In his speech, Ying Jinfei, Director of ZJAM, expressed appreciation for the strong support from the Embassy of PRC in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Pulchri Studio. He pointed out that Dutch art masters have exerted a profound influence on modern Chinese fine arts, and the creations by contemporary Chinese artists featured in the exhibition represent a two-way, warm-hearted dialogue between civilizations. The exhibition showcases the contemporary evolution of Chinese “water-based woodblock printing” as a traditional technique. Its route of dissemination stretches from China to Japan and further to Europe, echoing how Vincent van Gogh drew inspiration from Japanese UKiyoe. Starting from the ancient philosophical concept of the “Dao”, the exhibition follows the thread of “water culture” to explore possibilities for the coexistence of ecology and civilizations.

A group photo of guests

Following the opening ceremony, Director Ying Jinfei led a guided tour for attendees. The exhibition will remain open until June 28.

What sets this exhibition apart is its meticulous curation as a practical exercise in international cultural exchange. The curatorial team deliberately distilled “water culture” as the core image, allowing China and the Netherlands, though thousands of miles apart, to transcend geographical and ideological divides and engage in a profound dialogue through their shared memories and emotional connections to water. Rather than simply replicating traditions, the exhibited works showcase contemporary Chinese art and ideas, engaging in dynamic exchange and mutual learning with modern Dutch art through vibrant artistic language. This constitutes the most enlightening significance of “the Realm of Clarity” within a cross-civilizational context.