An exhibition of Lingnan culture from China's Guangdong Province made waves in Rio de Janeiro on June 27 (local time), as part of the "Dialogue of Civilizations (BRICS Edition)" series leading up to the 17th BRICS Summit.
Titled "'See You in Guangdong' Lingnan Cultural Innovation Exhibition", the exhibition featured nearly 100 creative pieces ranging from collectible toys and intricate building blocks to fashion made with xiangyunsha, or gambiered Guangdong gauze, a hand-dyed silk known for its smooth texture and elaborate craftsmanship.
The show attracted close to 1,000 visitors, including former Brazilian national footballer Carlos Roberto. A fan of Chinese art, Roberto said he often decorates his home with Chinese-style vases. At the exhibition, he was drawn to floral-themed building blocks from Guangdong, as well as a pixelated block portrait of Brazilian football star Neymar.
"Sport has the power to bring people together," he said. "China has many football fans. I hope we'll see more youth exchanges in football between Brazil and China in the future," he added.
For Gabriel Gavazzi, a Chinese culture lover from nearby Niterói, the event highlight was a miniature bridal headdress puzzle from Dongguan, a toy manufacturing hub in Guangdong. "It is very beautiful and has a cinematic feel, like something out of Ann Lee's film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," he said.
Though no stranger to Chinese cultural events, Gavazzi called the exhibition "rare and refreshing." "Most China-related events in Brazil are dance or talks. A cultural exhibition like this was something different."
The show featured both heritage items like qipaos and contemporary everyday goods, handbags, phone cases, and trendy toys. In such a modern twist of Guangdong's legacy, Clara Medeiros, a local visitor who is learning Chinese language found her understanding of Chinese culture refreshed.
"I am able to remember the past of Chinese culture, but the exhibition makes me wonder the future of it and I realize that it is so vast and it's ever changing," she said.
After the exhibition came to a close, most of the exhibits were donated to local institutions. Dongguan's popular art toys and miniatures went to the Confucius Institute at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, while a building block set inspired by Hong Kong actor Stephen Chow's films was gifted to the Sino-Brazilian Friendship Association.
"These toys are more than just playthings, they're bridges to cultural understanding," said Sun Yanping, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute. "They'll help our students connect with Chinese culture in fun, interactive ways."
Su Ziliang, Secretary-General of the Sino-Brazilian Friendship Association, who originally came from Guangdong, accepted the gift with nostalgia. "We grew up watching Stephen Chow's movies. They're part of my memories."
Moved by seeing so many innovative products from his home province on display in Brazil, Su hoped that cultural exchange could eventually lead to deeper cooperation. "We look forward to working with local chambers and business associations to bring more cultural products from Guangdong to Brazil," he said.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Photo | Gong Mingyang
Video | Guo Hongda
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He