One 'crazy decision' leads to a lifelong love affair

Editor's note: China Daily presents the series Friends Afar to tell the stories of people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. Through the vivid narration of the people in the stories, readers can get a better understanding of a country that is boosting openness.

For Isabel Cervera, her 40-year love affair with China began with what she calls "a crazy decision".

The Spaniard's moment of "craziness" came when she was a 23-year-old student during a trip to China in 1984.

As Cervera studied art history in college, she chose to do a course in Asian studies in 1983 to broaden her professional horizons.

"The teacher of my Asian studies course had a friend organizing a tourist trip to China. When my teacher mentioned this, I immediately signed up because I wanted to learn more about Chinese art, which is so different from European arts," Cervera said.

On the trip, she visited cities including Shanghai, Nanjing, the historically important Beijing, Luoyang and Xi'an, and was mesmerized as things she had seen in books appeared before her eyes.

"It was really surprising. Artworks like statues and architecture were way better in reality, much better than the pictures or what I had in mind. That's when I decided I needed to come here to study and take Chinese art as my academic focus," she said.

Despite that "crazy decision", making it happen would prove a little more difficult than Cervera expected. And it was not until four years later, in 1988, that she finally made it back to China.

"After I got everything prepared, I finally made it to study at Peking University and then the Central Academy of Fine Arts for about two years."

She said it was an incredibly interesting period in her life, a period that coincided with the beginning of the second decade of China's reform and opening-up.

"I could feel the vibrant social atmosphere when everyone had a lot of hope for the future and were very open-minded toward new things and the whole society showed sparkling creativity," Cervera said.

Since then, China has become a central theme in her life, and Cervera's career has revolved around fostering cultural exchanges between the East and West.

"In the rich tapestry of Chinese art history, ceramics and other handcrafted items stand out as my favorites. These pieces serve as vibrant snapshots of the culture from which they emerged," she said. "Throughout history, each dynastic change in China brought foreign influences that challenged local traditions. Yet, China has always adeptly integrated these influences, turning cultural clashes into harmonious fusions and creating unique handicrafts in the process."

After completing her studies in China in 1990, Cervera has made frequent visits to do research, organize exhibitions or simply to catch up with friends.

Positive outlook

She served as director of the Confucius Institute in Madrid from 2012 to 2017, a period during which she witnessed a growing interest in China and Chinese learning among young Spaniards.

"The evolution and openness of the two countries have allowed for a direct understanding of the reality of each country, which is reflected in a very positive outlook on both sides. The demand from Spanish-speaking audiences for a more direct and profound understanding of Chinese culture and language is undoubtedly just one piece of evidence of the growing interest in China," she said.

After teaching Asian and Chinese art history at Spanish universities for 25 years, she returned to China in 2020 to become the director of the Cervantes Institute in Beijing. The institute is named after Miguel de Cervantes, the 16-17th century creator of the fictional Don Quixote.

The institute in Beijing is a center for Spanish cultural exchange and a bridge between Chinese and Spanish cultures. It houses sections for Spanish Sinology, language learning materials in both Spanish and Chinese, and Chinese translations of classic Spanish literature.

"We aim to create exchange platforms globally, fostering mutual understanding and making the world better through education and culture," Cervera said.

The Belt and Road Initiative and China's Global Civilization Initiative can play a key role in cross-cultural dialogue and learning, she said.

"All strategies that promote the exchange of ideas contribute positively to the development of societies and help create multifocal perspectives, where cultural and ideological hierarchies dissolve to define inclusive, participatory cultures that enable addressing global issues, without forgetting local identities," she said.

Cervera's five-year term as director of the Cervantes Institute in Beijing will come to an end next year, but her close ties with China will continue.

"My relationship with China will always be linked to its culture in its multiple expressions, in its contemporary version, and the richness of its past," she said.