Vanguard exhibition commemorates 30th anniversary of U.S.-China formal relations - addresses the enormous changes taking place in China's cities due to globalization and urbanization

WASHINGTON, March 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Meridian International Center:

Meridian International Center, in partnership with the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) in Beijing, and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, DC will open METROPOLIS NOW! A Selection of Chinese Contemporary Art at Meridian International Center on March 25, 2009. The exhibition was organized to commemorate 30 years of formal diplomatic ties between the United States and the People's Republic of China, and will be officially opened in the presence of H.E. Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States.

METROPOLIS NOW! is a compelling selection of 52 paintings, sculptures, mixed media, and video installations by 31 artists. Their works address the enormous changes taking place in China's cities - specifically, the major art centers of Beijing and Shanghai. Visitors to the exhibition will experience the implications of urbanization and globalization as seen through the eyes of these extraordinary artists.

According to Fan Di'an, Director, National Art Museum of China, "This exhibition represents a new achievement in cultural exchange between China and the United States. It is the first exhibit of its kind to reach Washington, DC."

The journey of METROPOLIS NOW! began when the Embassy of China reached out to Meridian as a project partner for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations because of its distinguished Art for Cultural Diplomacy program, as well as its history of collaboration with China on artistic, professional, and cultural exchanges. In mid-September 2008, Meridian's curators traveled to Beijing and Shanghai to meet with NAMOC director Fan Di'an, a renowned figure in Chinese art, and his staff to plan the exhibition.

"The works of art included in METROPOLIS NOW! are powerful examples of the role of artists as envoys or cultural diplomats. While official diplomatic efforts among governments are well known, people-to-people exchanges are increasingly a vital part of a far-reaching solution to building a safer and more prosperous world," said Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday, President of Meridian International Center. "Cultural diplomacy, as exemplified by such collaborative projects, provides a neutral setting where people from around the globe can meet to consider issues, resolve difficulties, break down stereotypes, and learn more about one another."