Hong Kong’s popular new online media, HK01 Network, recently reported that the Matisse Museum in northern France has announced the cancellation of its loan of 280 works to the UCCA (Center for Contemporary Art) in Beijing. The Museum cited “the geopolitical crisis triggered by Russia’s declaration of war on Ukraine” and “China’s Relations with Russia.” The exhibition was originally scheduled to open in Beijing on March 26 and was to move to the UCCA pavilion in Shanghai next. UCCA suspended the exhibitions until further notice as the loan program has been cancelled. The Henri Matisse exhibition, originally scheduled to open in Beijing on the 26th of this month, is the largest solo exhibition in China by the French painter. Henri Matisse (1869-1954), is known as one of the masters of modern art. Matisse, together with Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, brought great changes to the arts in the early 20th century. So far, China has not condemned Russia for invading Ukraine. China was one of the 35 countries abstaining in the UN General Assembly’s vote on condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Western intelligence revealed that senior Chinese officials have asked senior Russian officials to delay its invasion of Ukraine until after the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing this year. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the allegations.
Source: HK01, March 4, 2022
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