The world would be a better place if more wishes could come true, as in the case of German artists H.D. Schrader and Timm Ulrich, whose work aims to protect the environment.

　　While the two artists were traveling through China to find a suitable place to present their art, they came across Xiamen. Deeply impressed by the natural beauty of the city's lush trees and verdant landscapes, Xiamen turned out to be the perfect place for the artists.

　　What was meant in the beginning to be a solely artistic expression has now turned into a month long art festival entitled Art and Environment, kicking off on November 1. Art and Environment is a series of sizeable international activities sponsored and organized by Germany, and it has been successively held by 14 countries around the world over the past 30 years. It is the first time that this festival will be held in Xiamen and the Asia-Pacific Region.

　　However, without the help of some committed early supporters, such as Professor Zhao Jiujie from Xiamen University, this event could never have taken place. "When local artists heard about the event, they were excited," said Cherry Zhou, general manager of YYTJ Culture and Arts Company Limited, which is promoting the event. Due to its humanistic and cultural importance, they decided to involve the Chinese government to take the event to a higher level.

　　Now that Germany and China are collaborating on this event, its supporters, among them the German Foreign Consulate General in Guangzhou and the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen’s municipal government, hope to boost Xiamen's economic growth and acceptance on the international art scene.

　　Aside from installations, poetry and music recitals capped by the “Xiamen Growth Ring” exhibition, the festival will also feature “Keep Watching the Sea - China and Germany Contemporary Artists Invitation Exhibition.” There will be a series of lectures on such subjects as "Poetry and Philosophy" and "Zhuangzi and Nietzsche," because, according to Ms. Zhou, the event is “not supposed to be an art show only, but also a deep exchange of philosophical ideas between China and Germany." (xiamen net)