Lin Hongming, President of Shanghai Oriental Art Center Visits Israel

Midday sun streamed through the front window of Levontin 7 and Injera’s Ethiopian-jazz fusion lingered in the air. Among the guests attending the marathon of Israeli world music at the Tel Aviv club was Lin Hongming, President of the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, who was gracious enough to consent to an interview with Midnight East.

The Shanghai Oriental Art Center is more than a majestic performing arts venue, as a cultural undertaking on this scale has a significant symbolic value. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, construction on the building, which encompasses 40,000 square meters, began on March 26, 2002 and was completed on December 31, 2004. The opening was celebrated with a New Year Concert and has since hosted performances of the highest quality from around the world. The building has an exquisitely beautiful exterior, resembling the petals of a butterfly orchid from an aerial view. A world class concert hall, it provides an inviting setting for introducing world arts to China as well as a performance venue for Chinese artists such as the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Past performances have included the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Swedish Ballet.

When asked if he had any prior expectations of this trip to Israel, Lin Hongming explained, “I came on very short notice, so I didn’t have time to develop expectations.” Responding with warmth and alacrity to an invitation by the Consulate General in Shanghai, he has spent the past week as part of the Cultural Delegation organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs experiencing a diverse selection of Israeli music, theatre and dance, in addition to meeting with members of the Israeli arts community. Despite a busy schedule, he has even found time to visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where he reports enjoying both the paintings in the permanent collection, such as Picasso, and the modern Israeli paintings.

As for his impressions of Israel and its culture, Lin Hongming says, “The Israeli Foreign Ministry makes an excellent effort to promote Israeli culture to the world, it is very impressive. The development of culture in Israel is very diverse. There is a famous Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, also opera – both Western and local Israeli opera. I am happy to hear that there is a new Israeli opera in Hebrew [The Child Dreams, based on a play by Hanoch Levin] that will premiere in January. This morning’s performance of world music was also interesting. The efforts to preserve local cultural heritage and promote Israeli culture to the world have made a strong impression on me. It is impressive to see that the Israeli government also supports small and medium sized art groups.”

 The Shanghai Oriental Art Center already has cultural connections with Israel, which Lin Hongming hopes to develop further, saying, “The Israeli Philharmonic will perform in October 2010, with Zhubin Mehta conducting, and we are planning a meaningful concert in 2011, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, which will include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. I am also talking with the Israeli Opera regarding bringing Israeli opera to China.”

Image credit: Photo of Shanghai Oriental Art Center from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobysimkin/3664963844/sizes/m/