The adventures of ArtChina

St Barnabas Press explore the Far East

ArtChina is based in Cambridge and has been running such tours very successfully for some years as well as organising exhibitions and courses by visiting Chinese artists, particularly printmakers, here and around Britain.

In 15th June 2012, it has arranged for Dr. He Weimin, A.R.E, to exhibit his work and teach a woodcut course. Also in 8th August, there is free talk and a solo show by visiting Master printer Zhu Jianhui. Both events are hold at St Barnabas Gallery, Cambridge.

Have you ever tried cycling on the top of an ancient city wall or through breath taking country side amidst unique geological formations? Have you ever had a meal at the foot of Moon Mountain watching daring mountain climbers or walked on a rice terrace, known as the dragon's back, where you could also do a sketch while having a cup of tea in the misty clouds? Have you ever slept on a brick-made bed or seen dragon sculptures in a traditional Chinese garden?

Well, a group of artists from Cambridge have, they had experienced all these with an organization called ArtChina. Cambridge based Aimin Hill, herself Chinese, leads the tours.

For many, China is a far away Eastern county, a completely different world and an alien place to visit but it offers a rich and exciting experience. The last tour included walking on the most rugged but also most beautiful part of the Great Wall of China. The artists in the group sketched on top of the wall and throughout the trip beside fields, rivers, rice terraces, museums, markets, tea houses...

In Xi'an, as well as seeing the incredible Terracotta Army, they cycled on the ancient city wall, couples on tandems, watching the living city beneath their wheels, and a reconstruction of life in imperial China inside the wall. In Yongshou, a small town located beside the Li River, surrounded by miles of green limestone mountains, they went cycling through villages, breathing in the fresh countryside air with the wind softly touching their faces. They saw the buffalo in the fields and the clear, green water of the river and inspired by such beauty many drew or painted, trying to capture the moment. The group also visited Chinese artists to see their studios and work. In addition, Aimin choose different types of restaurants each day, concentrating on local specialities and different styles of cooking, but with attention to individual needs, such as vegetarian, and the degree of spice in the dishes. The quality of the meals was superb, and as much a high-point of the trip as all the art experiences.

To book a space at the course, please visit www.stbarnabaspress.com. For further information on the itinerary and prices for our Octorber trip, along with reviews and photos of previous tours, log in at http://artchina.co.uk. Contact no: 01223 693213 or 07817029618. Email: info@artchina.co.uk