2008 - Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

Page 8 and below: Visitors
to the exhibition “Gerhard
Richter. Bilder 1963 – 2007”
(Gerhard Richter. Paintings
1963 – 2007) at the National
Art Museum of China, Beijing
Launch event for the “China Year” featuring Helmut Schmidt (left) and
Prof. Dr. Kurt Biedenkopf (right), with moderator Frank Sieren
CULTURAL ExChANgE WiTh A LONg
PAsT AND A PROmisiNg FUTURE –
A yEAR OF ENCOUNTERs bETWEEN
DREsDEN AND bEijiNg
Launch event with helmut schmidt and kurt biedenkopf
Through their “China in Dresden in China” year, the Staatliche
Kunstsammlungen Dresden continued one of Dresden’s
important cultural traditions – that of exploring the art
and culture of China – and also stimulated contemporary
Chinese-German cultural exchange. Throughout the year,
numerous exhibitions and accompanying events took
place in Dresden and Beijing – a high-ranking joint venture
in terms of cultural and foreign policy, as indicated by the
patronage of the respective heads of state of China and
Germany and by the visits of both countries’ Foreign
Ministers to the exhibitions in Beijing. At the same time,
the “China in Dresden in China” year paved the way for
future events. In 2009 and 2010, for example, new major
projects are to take place in Beijing which will undoubtedly
also have long-term effects on the intensification of
cultural relations and the promotion of mutual understanding.
The high status of the “China-Year” was immediately
evident at the opening event. On 28 February 2008, a
discussion on the subject of “Our neighbour China” took
place between two prominent figures who have played
important roles in recent German history and politics and
who are both highly regarded across party boundaries at
both national and international level.
“Gerhard Richter” exhibition
at the National Art Museum of
China, Beijing
Helmut Schmidt is a great German statesman who has
played a decisive role in shaping the history of the Federal
Republic of Germany, including in the role of Federal
Minister and, from 1974 to 1982, as Federal Chancellor. He
discussed the subject of China with Prof. Dr. Kurt Biedenkopf,
who has also made major contributions to the common
weal in a succession of offices and functions at both
federal state and national level, not least in his role as the
long-serving Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony.
Among other things, they are associated through their
involvement in the Deutsche Nationalstiftung (German
National Foundation), of which the former Federal Chancellor
is patron and honorary chairman. Kurt Biedenkopf holds
the chair of the Foundation Senate. Even after their retirement
from political office, they both continue their tireless
political and social engagement.
The “China in Dresden in China” year was launched by
two politicians, intellectuals and publicists who are seen
as authorities both by the population at large and by current
holders of political office on account of their comprehensive
knowledge and experience, their outstanding
political and economic expertise, their straight-forward
and astute analyses. Their advice is sought after. They are
appreciated for their life-long achievements because they
have promoted their country’s prosperity and well-being.
An indication of this appreciation was the immense
degree of public interest in this opening event. It was
originally planned to hold it in the “Riesensaal” (Grand
Hall) of the Residenzschloss, which is not exactly small, but
demand on the part of the people of Dresden was so great
that it had to be transferred to the International Congress