This past weekend, the Process-Journey Art Exhibition opened in Beijing's historic Dongbianmen Watchtower to commemorate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Australia.

It's a commemoration of friendly ties through the arts, and will continue till November the 11th. The idea is to foster ideas of cross-cultural exchange through contemporary art. So what kind of connections do China and Australia have when it comes to arts? Let's hear more from Shen Ting.

Reporter:

The "Process-Journey", an exhibition of photographs by Chinese and Australian artists is on display in Beijing. It aims to reflect the journeys that inspired artists from the two countries to understand why artists from different cultures form enduring relations.

These artists explore the connections as well as the apparent disparities between Australia and China. Throughout their journeys, the artists act as both commentators and initiators who choose to extend their personal and artistic practices beyond their original homes.

People are attracted by a series of headshots of a Chinese family. The artist Lindy Lee is a Chinese born Australian. Her parents migrated to Sydney 60 years ago. For this exhibition, she chose her family's old photographs and re-created them in a modern way to present the family's transition from China to Australia. 

"It's very special for me because all of my works here are about my family. This is my mother, when she was in China, maybe she was 14 years old. I made some works that came back to China. And she's very proud because I've got some works in the Australian embassy too.

It's all about my family and all about the transition from China to Australia, and back to China again. She's very excited about that. A lot of my works involve the change, the change from China to Australia, and all the things that have happened in the family."


There are so many families similar to that of Lindy. And the photographs are the best witnesses of their journeys and all the changes.

Another Australian artist, Jayne Dyer, who has settled in Beijing for many years, demonstrates her understanding of both the Chinese and Australian cultures by two modern constructions.

"I've made the two constructions which like very tall tables with books. These tables are stable with books, but the books are very high. To me, that suggests the importance of knowledge that how we must reach to be able to access knowledge.

Also the fact the pages were white, suggests we can never assume one culture's ideas from our own. Every culture has its own ideas, identity and sometimes we can make terrible assumptions before we actually have the knowledge."

Although Jayne was born in Australia and can't speak Chinese, she uses a special language of culture and art that extends beyond the boundaries of a national and individual identity.

The exhibition also raises questions as to how these artists conquers the huge cultural gaps. An American audience Ellen Pearlman gives us a good explanation. 

"This exhibition is part of a much larger trend of the contemporary art. It's a part of the Australian's view of the contemporary art world. Like that piece there, you can see is like an acupuncture model, but it has been fit with many modern electronic devices, medical devices and radio devices. It takes the inspiration from the acupuncture model and electric stimulation of acupunctural points."

The exhibition was also attended by Australian Ambassador to China Dr. Geoff Raby. On the opening of the exhibition, he said he was delighted that the government was able to assist and get involved in this cultural event and was glad to see the ongoing series of exhibitions, events, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

 "Under the 35 years, the cultural dimension of the relationship has continued to strengthen, diversify and become ever richer. Thousands and thousands of Australian artists covering all artistic endeavors have come to China to work here and collaborate with Chinese colleagues.

Process�CJourney brings together the works of Australia and China. It can be said that it's a kind of crystallization of their thoughts about bilateral relationship."

Process-Journey will tour Shanghai and Hong Kong in 2008 and Australia in 2009. It is an initiative that will be fuelled by interaction and co-operation, cultivating new audiences for contemporary art practice between China and Australia.