Chinese artist honours Rotorua with gift
The five metre long oil painting by Chinese artist Zhao Qingguo (centre) is presented to the city.
Famous Chinese artist Zhao Qingguo has presented Rotorua with a prestigious gift, a sign of the strong relationship between Rotorua and China.
On a visit to Rotorua, Mr Zhao was greeted by council officials and members of the Rotorua-Chinese community with a powhiri at the Rotorua Museum where he presented his five metre long oil painting of the Lake Rotorua shore, valued at $150,000. He also gave another painting of a Penny Rose friendship flower.
In return Rotorua presented Mr Zhao with a waka huia carving from Te Puia - a prized and revered carved box intended to store family treasures.
Speaking through a translator, Mr Zhao said he had been to Rotorua a number of times and was honoured to capture some of its beauty through paint.
Mr Zhao is a distinguished Professor at Zhongyuan University of Technology, Dean of China Central Academy of Painting, deputy of Calligraphy at the Great Wall of China General Research Institute of Painting, and a renowned artist.
He was joined by members of the China-New Zealand cultural exchange programme, the general manager of China Southern Airline Mike Ma, and members of the Chinese-New Zealand press, among others.
Speaking at the powhiri, China Southern Airlines general manager Mike Ma said he was looking forward to continuing the relationship with Rotorua, and developing stronger premium package opportunities to encourage growth for Rotorua from China.
Destination Rotorua Marketing general manager Oscar Nathan said he was looking forward to developing the partnership between China Southern Airlines and Rotorua.
In October last year China Southern Airline signed an historic collaborative memorandum of understanding with the Rotorua District Council aiming to mutually grow profile and opportunities, while promoting the region as a destination for Chinese semi-independent travellers.
While in Rotorua this week Mr Zhao met with aspiring and established local artists, visited galleries and workshops, and experienced Maori carving and weaving at Te Puia. While there he also painted an interpretation of the Mother Earth and Father Sky, similar to both Maori and Chinese legend.