The German Chinese Culture Center was established
by Xie Luishin in 2002. That a Chinese national
sets up an institution to foster the cultural
exchange between two countries is nothing unusual.
However, Xie had become a German citizen in meantime,
studying viola at the revered
Stuttgart conservatory.
His achievements as a musician obviously
did not go unnoticed in China. Hence we was recalled by his mother country to
head the arts and design faculty at Nanchang university. Nanchang is the
capital city of Jiangxi province (close to Shanghai) whose university
teaches 70,000 students every year.
Back in China, Xie not only headed the construction of the new
buildings of the arts and design faculty, but
continued his work to bring the two cultures together.
What better than music and arts to find the common ground
between seemingly remote civilizations.
He founded the concentus musici, a group of professional musicians
and students, many of whom have studied in Germany. The concentus musici
emphasizes performing German classical as well as unsung Chinese
composers. The mixture is well received in Nanchang where the weekly
concerts are always sold out.
Xie has however farther reaching goals:
establish a German cultural week which would take place in October, right after
the Germans observe their national merger and the Chinese
fete the formation of the Communist state.
He intends to attract German writers who will
read their writings to Germanophiles.
With his very good contacts
to musicians all over the world, it is easy for Xie to call and many will come.
It is rumored that Chengbi An will compose a piece especially for this event.
Among this flurry of activities, does Xie himself find the
time to enjoy the arts he so skillfully introduces and supervises.
“I have always dreamt of bringing together my home country and my adopted
country. To see that others appreciate what I have already
lived is a tremendous satisfaction which lets me forget
that my violin idles.
I particularly hope that my children will be able to
savor my work.”
Apparently a big crowd has joined his children
in enjoying the work of the German Chinese cultural center.