Digital Rendition Of Qing Ming Shang He Tu (清明上河图) To Be Shown In Singapore

Online, September 8, 2011 (Newswire.com) - At last year's Shanghai World Expo, the biggest attraction in the China Pavilion was a giant digitally animated reproduction of Qing Ming Shang He Tu (清明上河图), a well-loved and revered painting from the Song Dynasty.

The panoramic 120m by 6m work used technology to make the painting come alive. Characters walked and talked across the tableau as visitors followed their moves. Some nine million visitors saw the painting, which received rave reviews in the media for its originality. It was the undisputed hit of the China Pavilion.

Singaporeans will now be able to experience this historic work of art when it makes its debut outside Greater China at Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre Hall 3 from Dec 7, 2011 to Feb 6, 2012. An immersive and total cultural experience, it is expected to draw some 800,000 visitors over the festive period, both locally and from the region.To date, this unique digital art piece has been seen by more than 10 million people. After its debut at the Shanghai World Expo, the work travelled to Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei where it was shown to capacity crowds, with some people having to be turned away. Many of the sessions were even sold out in advance, due to pent-up demand and buzz created at the Shanghai World Expo.

The landmark animated Chinese painting is brought to Singapore by Singapore Huading, a China-Singapore business liaison and consultancy firm, and Singex, a business event organiser and venue manager of Singapore EXPO.

Mr Edmund Chua, Managing Director of Singapore Huading, says: "We are very pleased to be the first country outside Greater China to show this iconic work of art. It is a testimony of our cordial relationship between Singapore and China and also a rare privilege for Singaporeans to be able to witness for themselves the magnificence of the original work brought to vivid life by modern technology. We hope this moving masterpiece will make the learning and appreciation of Chinese culture enjoyable and engaging."

Mr Aloysius Arlando, Chief Executive Officer of Singex, adds: "It is an achievement for Singapore to have secured the rights to show this cutting-edge art technology during the peak Christmas and Chinese New Year periods. Having been inspired by how the Chinese masterpiece has come alive with this technology, Singex is proud to be able to share the experience with Singaporeans. The show at Singapore EXPO promises to capture the imagination of all visitors by immersing them into a brilliant world of colour, light and movement."

The original painting of Qing Ming Shang He Tu, by acclaimed Song Dynasty artist Zhang Zeduan, was created in the 11th century. Revered through the ages as "The Chinese Mona Lisa,'' the 5.28m long scroll depicts riverside activities in the city of Kaifeng and is a Chinese national treasure which is now kept in the vaults of Beijing's Palace Museum. The creators of the digital version of Qing Ming Shang He Tu, which is 30 times larger than the original, are Crystal CG Shanghai, one of China's leading companies in digital technology. They took almost two years to complete the project.

Crystal CG Shanghai's director, Yu Zheng, says: "It was a mind-blowing experience to re-create this work of art, which every Chinese person is familiar with. My team and I felt enormous pressure to make sure we could do justice to the original. In the end, we are very proud of the final product as it brings a whole new dimension to appreciating the original. It also makes the artwork relevant to a new generation of younger tech-savvy audiences."

Public ticket sales information and more details about A Moving Masterpiece: The Song Dynasty As Living Art will be revealed at our official media conference in late September 2011. For more information on the exhibition, please log on to www.amovingmasterpiece.com.

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About Singapore Huading
Singapore Huading (Group) Pte Ltd provides quality professional training and brings in world class events to Singapore. It specialises in professional training for Government officers and corporate executives and is also a training provider certified by the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs PRC. As an organiser of large-scale events, it focuses primarily on those with educational and cultural elements. For more information on Huading, please visit www.huading.com.sg

About Singex
A MICE veteran with 30 years of industry expertise, Singex is backed by top-notch infrastructural capabilities, an extensive global network and a strong commitment to operational and service excellence, to power your business events and growth. Its customised and integrated suite of event and venue solutions include market intelligence, conference and exhibition project management, venue and ancillary services, as well as market representation. Singex's global presence, extensive network of key business and government contacts, as well as affiliations with leading international trade associations and organisations, will arm its partners with the necessary connections to acquire, build, market and scale events around the world. Current collaborations include the management of Binhai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (BICEC) in Tianjin, China, and the formation of a MICE management company, Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI), in Doha, Qatar. Transforming ideas and concepts into extraordinary business experiences, Singex is key to Singapore's success as one of the most vibrant MICE destinations in the world. Visit www.singex.com.sg for more information.

About Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre
A top-ranked venue in Asia and Singapore's largest purpose-built MICE facility, Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre, managed by Singex Venues Pte Ltd, is a one-stop event hub for every reason and season. Covering over 123,000sqm of indoor and outdoor space, comprising convention-exhibition halls, conference halls, meeting rooms, mobile V-Rooms, and The MAX Pavilion, EXPO welcomes over six million visitors and 600 events every year, ranging from exhibitions, conventions, corporate meetings, award ceremonies, gala banquets, to consumer shows. By early 2012, EXPO will feature a brand new convention wing, MAX Atria, with additional meeting facilities and lush green spaces. The new wing is also certified Green Mark Platinum by Singapore's Building and Construction Authority. Equipped with world-class amenities, 2,500 parking lots and Flavours East, a collection of 15 food and beverage outlets, EXPO is conveniently located five minutes from Changi International Airport and fifteen minutes from the city centre. Visit www.singaporeexpo.com.sg for more information.