The opening speech was held by the Deputy Chief of Mission from the Norwegian Embassy, Minister Counsellor Mr Kjell Tormod Pettersen.
In his opening speech, Mr. Pettersen highlighted the alternative understanding of history the exhibition offers to us. By using one of the strongest symbols of Chinese culture, The Terracotta Warriors Exhibition in Xian and combining it with women and children faces: "it gives us the opportunity to look at history from another perspective, namely the angle of women and children. Too often, women and children have been left out of the descriptions of war and the history books, even though they suffer and are victims of war", Mr. Pettersen noted.
An overview picture 798 Space Gallery, where the exhibition is held
(Royal Norwegian Embassy Beijing)
The artist, Marian Heyerdahl, was overwhelmed of the response by the public and her Chinese colleagues. Especially the amount of people showing up for the official opening surprised her, taking in to account that it was the last day of Lunar New Year official holiday.
She also pointed out that the reason for using the Terracotta Warriors from Xian was due to its strong recognition around the world. In that way her message of women and children’s suffering and historical neglect becomes one of universal significance.
“The Terracotta Woman” exhibition will be on show at the 798 Space Gallery until the 10th of March before it moves on to South- Korea and then other places around the world.
It is well worth a visit.