On February 1st, 2023, the exhibition “Between Orientals” was successfully held at the Museum of Art History (MUHAR), bringing together Chinese and Uruguayan artists to foster cultural exchange between the two countries. This project, launched in November 2022, is the result of the efforts of STW regional partner and artist Gabriela Rieiro, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the mayor of Montevideo, Carolina Cosse, the MUHAR, the Juan Palleiro art gallery, and supporting partners including STW, to expand the relationship between China and Uruguay through the sharing of art and culture.

About “Between Orientals”

The goal of “Between Orientals” is to encourage and solidify the relationship between China and Uruguay through the cultural exchange of art and artists from all over Uruguay. This project brings together artists from both countries to create a new link of union between the cultures of the East and West, transcending continents, languages, and traditions.

Present at the inauguration was the Chinese ambassador in Uruguay, Wang Gang, the mayor of Montevideo, Carolina Cosse, the director of the Department of Culture of the commune, María Inés Obaldía as well as artists, Liu Meicen, Luis Sei Fong, and Gabriela Rieiro Candia.

Born from a Commitment to Cultural Exchange

The project was inspired by Gabriela Rieiro’s personal experience and commitment to cultural exchange. In 2019, she traveled to Beijing to showcase her series “Mission,” and in 2021 she presented “Tribute to La Franja y La Ruta” in Montevideo, with the help of the Juan Palleiro Art Gallery. In February 2022, she was invited to attend a twinning event with the Guangzhou Province, furthering her efforts to expand her art and share it with more Uruguayan artists. Gabriela then invited the Juan Palleiro Art Gallery to work with her on the “Between Orientals” project, bringing together artists from all over Uruguay.

The Montevideo chapter of “Between Orientals” was held at the MUHAR in conjunction with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China on February 1st, 2023. This collective exhibition showcases work from two Chinese and one Uruguayan artist, specially chosen by the curation and representation of the Juan Palleiro Art Gallery. With its location in the heart of Ciudad Vieja, the gallery has a strong reputation for curating Uruguayan artists and positioning them for international expansion.

“…intimate friendship erases distance. Despite the enormous ocean that separates us, the common desire to strengthen our friendship has united us strongly. It is not for nothing that we call each other Orientals alike,”

– Wang Gang, Chinese Ambassador in Uruguay

A Strengthening China-Uruguay Relationship Through Art

The “Between Orientals” exhibition is a testament to the power of cultural exchange to bring people and countries together. Through the sharing of art and culture, the relationship between China and Uruguay is strengthened, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other’s traditions and heritage. With the support of stakeholders from Uruguay, China, and the art & cultural fields, Gabriela Rieiro’s vision of creating a stronger and more tangible cultural exchange between the two countries has become a reality.

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