River of wisdom

Accompanied by foreign representatives and Cabinet officials, Taiwanese Premier Wu Den-yih on July 5 viewed an exhibition of “River of Wisdom,” a 3-dimensional animated version of the famed Song Dynasty painting “Along the River during the Qingming Festival” inTaipei, where he stressed the importance of culture and arts to a country.

“A nation marked by peace, prosperity and a thriving culture is what the people long for in any time and place,” Premier Wu remarked. “And the animated version of this painting is a testament to this.” The premier then called on all nations to work together to create a world where human rights are respected and freedom, democracy and culture flourish.

“This painting,” Wu said, “depicts a typical day during the festival on a market street in the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, Bianjing (today’s Kaifeng). It is among the most famous artworks of Chinese culture as well as an important piece of world heritage.”

Designed by Mr. Yao Kai-yang, a creative director employed at Taipei’s Nangang Software Park, the animated version of “Along the River during the Qingming Festival” was featured at the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, attracting millions of visitors. The artwork is now on exhibit at the site of the Taipei International Floral Expo, where it will be shown through September 4.

“I am impressed,” Wu said. “The skilled hands of young, creative and tech-savvy people have infused new life into this centuries-old masterpiece. They have brought together the traditional and the contemporary, and their efforts have been well-received on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”

Source: http://www.gio.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=92921&ctNode=2462&mp=807