Traveler on a quest still relishing the journey

French artist and philosopher builds bridges to ensure greater high-level and comprehensive contact, Li Yingxue reports.

After residing in Beijing for almost two decades, Christine Cayol, a French philosopher, writer, and artist, has undergone a remarkable transformation — from initial unfamiliarity to seamless adaptation, from absolute rejection to embracing the Chinese way of life and the profound culture. Consequently, she has emerged as a cultural bridge-builder between China and France.

She currently holds multiple roles. As the vice-president of the Sino-French Cultural Forum, she is committed to establishing a high-level platform for cultural and artistic exchange and dialogue between China and France.

Additionally, she is the founder of a home for Chinese-French art, Yishu 8, where she has initiated the French Young Artist Award, Chinese Young Artist Award, and a Sino-French craft exchange program. Over the years, she has continuously supported young artists from both countries with their residencies and studies.

Furthermore, she is also an accomplished writer who continues to introduce the lives and thinking of contemporary Chinese people to a French audience.

Cayol attended this year's Beijing Culture Forum on Sept 14 and 15 for the first time, and gave a speech at a parallel panel.

"There are numerous forums worldwide, with the majority dedicated to economics or politics. However, cultural forums are a rarity. I am genuinely excited about the chance Beijing offers me to engage in meaningful cultural and social dialogue with my Chinese friends," she says.

"I find that there are commonalities between the French and the Chinese, and one of them is romanticism," says Cayol.

She believes that romanticism involves blending simple, natural elements with culture and things that are understated yet profound, and both the Chinese and the French enjoy making friends, sharing stories over a meal and a drink, and savoring life.

"Culture isn't limited to reading books or appreciating art; culture is about embracing life," she emphasizes.

Cayol views the cultures of China and France as akin to tea and wine. "Both tea and wine are like genuine works of art; delving deeper into them requires time and continuous learning," she says.

Pivotal role

Cayol founded Yishu 8, a nonprofit art organization, in 2009 to facilitate cultural exchanges between China and France.

"It's a family for artists. I'm an artist, and I don't have precise business goals. I just want this place so that something new happens in art. It's all about innovation," Cayol explains.

In 2011, Yishu 8 officially launched the French Young Artist Award, followed by the establishment of the Chinese Young Artist Award. In 2019, Yishu 8 and Golden Phoenix cofounded the Hand of Wisdom Sino-French craft exchange program to bring young Chinese craftspeople to France for exchange and exhibitions.

Lacquer artist Yao Bangliang is the winner of this year's exchange program. He just finished his three-month trip to Paris last month and he found this experience quite eyeopening and inspiring.

Yao thinks that Cayol holds a deep fascination with Chinese culture and possesses substantial knowledge about it, and she has also played a pivotal role in fostering cultural and artistic exchanges between China and France.

"She holds great respect for the work of artists and strives to provide them with maximum freedom when offering assistance and support," Yao says.

"'Artists, you are free', is a phrase that she frequently says," Yao adds.

Cayol mentioned that Yao's work has garnered significant popularity in Paris, and he has gained a lot from this experience.

"This journey has had an impact on him and his work, although the effects may not be immediately visible; instead, they may become apparent over the course of a decade," Cayol remarks.

In 2011, Yishu 8 moved to the former location of the Sino-French University, situated to the southeast of the Forbidden City. The recipients of the French Young Artist Award had the opportunity to stay there and immerse themselves in the vibrant street life of the capital.

Cayol believes that, to facilitate dialogue among artists, it is essential to invite them to each other's cities. She is delighted to extend an invitation to young French artists to come and reside at the foot of the imperial palace, experiencing life in Beijing.

"The path to mutual understanding is arduous. It cannot be traversed in just a mere three days in China or France. It demands considerable patience and personal reflection, including contemplation of one's own culture and civilization," she notes.

On Sept 16, French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary visited Yishu 8 to attend 2020 Yishu 8 . French Young Artists Award winner Chloe Silbano's exhibition (se) deplacer (removal). The exhibition showcases 12 canvas oil paintings created by Silbano during her residency in Beijing over the past month.

"I greatly appreciate the works of Silbano, a young French artist who has captured the soul of Beijing with her eyes and brush," Lortholary says.

"Cayol and the Yishu 8 team have accomplished something remarkable over the past decade. They have built a bridge for cultural exchange and dialogue between China and France," he says.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and is also the Year of Sino-French Tourism and Culture. Lortholary says he looks forward to Yishu 8 continuing its artistic endeavors.

According to Cayol, Yishu 8 is planning a large-scale exhibition at the National Art Museum of China next year. This exhibition intends to gather Yishu 8's award-winning young artists from China and France over the past decade, offering them a platform to display their art in Beijing.

"We are asking them to create new art reflecting what China brings to their creation," Cayol says. "It's like a family reunion and an opportunity for the French artists to revisit China."

In addition to the exhibition, Cayol is also planning to diversify offerings from Yishu 8 by transforming the former location of the Sino-French University into a space where individuals can find respite amid the bustling city life while also engaging in learning opportunities.

Co-organized by Yishu 8, the Sino-French Cultural Forum is gearing up for its fifth edition this autumn in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, with Cayol serving as the vice-president representing the French side for this event.

According to her, they are listing the guests for this year's forum, which includes both emerging talent and renowned artists from France.

"Yishu 8's exchange programs are long-term and sustained, whereas the Sino-French Cultural Forum, spanning just two or three days, can involve a broader audience," she says.

"Simultaneously, it has the potential to ignite numerous collaborative inspirations and facilitate substantial cooperation within a short period."