At the invitation of Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery, Mervyn Rowe China Sketchbook Exhibition, which is organized by the Confucius Institute at Bangor University, will be on show at the Museum from January to March 2014 to mark the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The exhibition was originally put on display at Bangor University. However, due to limited conditions, the exhibition was only able to last for five days. Because of the positive feedback from the audience, the Museum sent the invitation and promised that this time the exhibition will last for six weeks. British artist and designer, Mervyn Rowe, of Barmouth, Wales, went out of his way to drew new paintings for this fresh round of art show.

The exhibition actually opened on January 18, 2014. In order to organize a successful exhibition, the Confucius Institute specially gave the Chinese New Year Reception on the same venue on the first day of the Chinese Spring Festival (Saturday, February 1, 2014). The get-together was accompanied by a sweet-sounding guzheng performance. Ms. Wang Fang was invited to play guzheng by the Confucius Institute for a special purpose. She graduated from Xi’an Conservatory of Music, majoring in guzheng, and had guzheng teaching experiences. She is currently studying for master’s degree of Musicology at the Institute of Popular Music (IPM), under University of Liverpool. While playing the instrument, she dressed in an exquisite red and pink hanfu, with a smile on her face. Her every plucking action on the strings was as skilled and subtle as an ancient Chinese musician. The heavenly sound produced by her elegant playing was sweet and agreeable for the attendees. The surrounding British audiences were overwhelmed with admiration for her outstanding artistry. During the interval of the performance, while appreciating those beautiful paintings on display, audiences also got the chance to exchange ideas with the author in person. Meanwhile, the spectators could enjoy the delicious Chinese small eats prepared by the Confucius Institute. Museum Staff remarked that they had never seen so many people came together. They uttered sighs of admiration unceasingly for the wonderful Chinese melodies. They even proposed that the Confucius Institute should provide them with Chinese music as background music for the exhibition. The reception came to an end in an overjoyed and festive atmosphere.

Mervyn Rowe China Sketchbook Exhibition opened on January 18, 2014. Project Manager of the Museum, Ms. Delyth Gordon, introduced the two co-directors of the Confucius Institute and Mervyn Rowe to the audience.

Mervyn Rowe was discussing with Prof. Zhang before a painting.

Ms. Wang Fang was specially invited to play guzheng on the first day of the Chinese New Year by the Confucius Institute.

Ms. Wang Fang’s guzheng performance was greatly admired by the locals.

Audiences talked with Mervyn at the reception.

Mervyn took a group photo with his fan.

Project Manager of the Museum proposed that Chinese folk music should be provided as the background music for the exhibition by the Confucius Institute.

A group photo of activity organizers, Mervyn Rowe, and guzheng performer.