Confluence of the Silk Road
"The Confluence of the Silk Road” Modern New Year Paintings Exhibition Officially Opens
Co-Creating a New Canvas for Cultural Exchange between China and Singapore
Singapore, 18 January 2026 — The Modern New Year Paintings of Shandong, China exhibition was officially launched in Singapore, marking a vibrant start to the new year’s cultural calendar. Centred on deepening cultural exchange between China and Singapore, this event features modern New Year Block Paintings from China’s Shandong Province exhibited alongside local Singaporean pieces for the first time, creating a dialogue across traditions and regions.
Jointly organised by the Singapore Cultural Tourism Pavillion, the Singapore-China Cultural Tourism Promotion Centre, and Jinan Xianxing (Singapore) Pte Ltd, the exhibition attracted numerous guests from the cultural and artistic communities as well as members of the public.
In her opening remarks, international curator Ms. Wang Yue Lin shared, “Today, we gather not only for visual pleasure but also for a meaningful cultural dialogue. The Shandong New Year paintings embody the profound humanistic spirit of Chinese culture, while the Singaporean New Year paintings reflect the diverse and vibrant Nanyang character. Their fusion is a vivid expression of mutual learning and cultural resonance between our two nations.”
Dual Narratives: Showcasing Artistic Heritage and Innovation
(Image caption: Shandong's Modern New Year Block Paintings and Singapore's New Year Paintings)
The exhibition unfolds along two narratives.
On one hand, the design team behind Shandong’s modern New Year paintings presents works deeply rooted in the millennia-old folk traditions of the Qi and Lu regions, reinterpreted through contemporary design language while retaining their symbolic cultural essence.
On the other hand, the Singaporean New Year painting team offers works that blend multiple cultural influences, using visual storytelling unique to the Lion City to portray local life and the spirit of the times.
Collaborative Efforts: Building a Strong Cultural Bridge
The success of this exhibition reflects the showcases and performances among various institutions from Singapore and China. The organisers expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Shandong and Singapore New Year painting teams, Yue Hwa Chinese Products (Singapore), Pathlight School for Children with Special Needs, Raffles Music College Singapore, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and Rui Li Academy of Fine Arts, among other partners. Their contributions have collectively built a meaningful bridge of cultural exchange and creative synergy.
(Image caption: Students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Raffles Music College Singapore, and Pathlight School.)
Special Section: Illuminating Artistic Inclusivity and Care
A particularly touching feature of the exhibition is the “Artworks by Children with Special Needs” section. Young artists from Singapore’s Pathlight School, such as 14-year-old Kristabel Tang, use bright colours and innocent brushstrokes to depict her vision of the New Year. These creations go beyond artistic expression. They are tributes to creativity, inclusivity and the limitless potential of the human spirit, drawing heartfelt applause and admiration from attendees.
(Image caption: Ms. Zhang Rui Li of Rui Li Academy of Fine Arts and Pathlight School student Kristabel painting live during the opening ceremony.)
Art Without Borders: Harmony of Sound and Colour
The opening ceremony was a multisensory celebration of art. A student [name] from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts opened the event with a guqin performance imbued with deep artistic sentiment, setting a serene and poetic tone. This was followed by Lena, a Raffles Music College student, performing an original violin piece composed specially for this exhibition. As her melodies intertwined with the vivid colours surrounding the space, the audience was swept into a harmonious and immersive artistic experience.
Culture Driving Commerce: Strengthening "Belt and Road" Cultural Bonds
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Wang Yue Lin highlighted the broader significance of the event, “Today’s gathering is a vivid reflection of the cultural exchange fostered under the Belt and Road Initiative. We firmly believe that ‘culture promotes commerce’, a deeper cultural understanding and emotional connections form the strongest and most enduring foundations for advancing economic and trade relations.”
Representatives from the organising institutions — the Singapore Cultural Tourism Pavilion, Singapore-China Cultural Tourism Promotion Centre, and Jinan Xianxing (Singapore) Pte Ltd — emphasised that this exhibition aims to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Singapore and China through the power of art. They expressed hope that this event would further promote broader exchanges and cooperation in the future.
The exhibition runs until 21 February 2026 and is open to the public free of charge at Yue Hwa Building, Level 3, 70 Eu Tong Sen Street Singapore (059805).