Exhibition of paintings and calligraphy from Wuhan, China.

Wednesday 15 February 2006

Over about 2000 years of development Chinese watercolours and calligraphy have become highly evolved art forms. This is an art that takes you beyond what the eye can see, towards the actual essence of its subject. Ultimately, it is a reflection of the harmony of all things.

I believe that art can cut through present-day barriers to take us to places that are timeless and magical.

The language of the spirit and the evocation of memory and hope that art can achieve, is a language that we can all feel and respond to.

It is particularly pleasing that this window into Chinese art comes from Hubei. Christchurch and Hubei's capital, Wuhan, are already good friends. These ties will deepen even more when I again visit Wuhan later this year. Exhibitions such as this gives these ties more substance and depth.

While China has such a long and rich history to draw on, this nation of ours is, in historical terms, still amazingly young. We are still very much in the throes of developing our own culture on the foundation of all the immigrant cultures that have already come, and are still coming here.

What we all do have in common is that both nations, both cities, are part of what the history books will record as the Pacific Century. The centre of political and economic power is shifting.

As this huge shift in history takes place, one of the by-products will be major changes in culture and art. As we experience this change we should applaud events, such as this, which increase our mutual understanding and respect.

I am delighted to officially open this exhibition and to thank all of you who have helped to make it possible.