The 10th Silk Road International Art Festival is set to kick off on October 12 in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, promising an impressive display of artistic performances and cultural exchanges. With 33 plays and 63 performances from 15 countries and regions, this year’s event will be grander than ever. For the first time, Suriname will proudly participate in this prestigious international art exhibition, represented by Maria Van Dijk and her remarkable watercolor painting, “Peacefully Wild.”

The Silk Road International Art Festival, hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government and organized by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, is the first large-scale international art festival in China focused on the Silk Road theme. It serves as a grand celebration of artistic achievement, a bridge for cultural exchange, and a festival for people to connect through art. This year, it welcomes artists from around the globe, including Austria, Hungary, Russia, the United States, and now, Suriname.

Suriname’s debut is marked by Maria Van Dijk’s “Peacefully Wild,” a stunning watercolor piece that features a jaguar resting peacefully on a tree. The jaguar, a protected species in Suriname, symbolizes the rich biodiversity of the country and its efforts in wildlife conservation. The painting will be part of the “Today’s Silk Road International Art Invitational Exhibition,” running from October 18, 2024, to November 10, 2024, at the Full Hall of the Shaanxi Provincial Art Museum, where hundreds of international artists will showcase their works, offering visitors a diverse array of artistic representations from across the globe.

In addition to the diverse performances, 789 art pieces from 113 countries will be showcased in the “Today’s Silk Road International Art Invitational Exhibition,” where Van Dijk’s “Peacefully Wild” will be on display. This participation not only highlights the creative prowess of artist’s from Suriname but also draws attention to its ecological heritage and conservation efforts.

The opening ceremony will take place at the Qiangqiang Daqin Performance Theater, featuring a large-scale Qin culture performance and exhibitions of intangible cultural heritage. Other events include the International Children’s Drama Week, the “Silk Road Carnival,” and the “40th China Shaanxi-Japan Kyoto Calligraphy and Painting Joint Exhibition.” This year’s festival also introduces a new “Silk Road Micro-short Drama” section to promote the development of the micro-short drama industry, highlighting cultural integration, creative inspiration, and economic growth.

Suriname’s participation in the festival signals an exciting chapter in its cultural exchange and artistic recognition, further connecting the country to the global art community