The "Drive: Empathy and Intuition" art exhibition recently opened at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. The exhibition featured the works of nearly twenty outstanding contemporary artists from home and abroad. According to curator Liang Shuang, these works represent the artists' "reflections on the natural environment, global ecology, and the fate of mankind, with a humanistic and social perspective as well as a poetic and romantic narrative". The exhibition pays tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall with reverence for nature, respect for life and hope for the future. Dr. Jane Goodall will visit China at the end of the month.

Scene of the press conference for the opening of the art exhibition

Driving Force: Empathy and Intuition is co-organized by Jane Goodall (Beijing) Environmental Culture Exchange Center and Beijing Lianyi Charitable Foundation Jane Goodall Youth Environmental Development Special Fund, and produced by All Good Cultural Arts. Ke Makai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jane Goodall (Beijing) Environmental Culture Exchange Center, said:

"Dr. Jane Goodall is ninety years old this year, and her life has inspired many people to work hard to make this world a better place. Through this exhibition, we can not only let people know the name Jane Goodall, but also let people understand, pay attention to, and think about the relationship between us humans and nature, and think about how we can do something to protect nature."

Zhang Meng, producer of the exhibition and head of Everything is Fine Culture and Art, said that the exhibition gathers more than ten top Chinese contemporary artists, including Xu Bing, Qiu Zhijie, Song Dong, Yin Xiuzhen, etc., to express their concern for nature, the environment, and the fate of mankind with Eastern thinking and stirring artistic creations! Visitors will see an art exhibition that respects nature and animals, and inspires viewers to think about the relationship between man and nature. It is hoped that the exhibition will bring the audience a different kind of viewing experience.

According to Ms. Qian Lei, Director General of Beijing Roots & Shoots, the consultant of the exhibition, at the opening ceremony, Dr. Jane Goodall, an outstanding zoologist, a great advocate of environmental protection, and a United Nations Messenger of Peace, will visit China from November 30th to December 4th, 2024, and participate in a series of public activities.

A roundtable discussion between Zhang Yue, famous host and Chairman of the Beijing Love It Animal Protection Foundation, Zhao Zhonghua, Chief Representative of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in China, Zhang Jingshuo, Director of the National Zoological Museum, and Zhang Boju, Secretary General of Gingko Public Welfare Foundation.

The expert committee of this art exhibition consists of artists, scholars, experts and representatives in the field of environmental protection and animal protection. At the opening ceremony, as members of the expert committee, Zhang Yue, a famous host and chairman of the Beijing Love It Animal Protection Foundation, Zhao Zhonghua, chief representative of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in China, Zhang Jingshuo, curator of the National Zoological Museum, and Zhang Baju, secretary-general of Ginkgo Foundation, shared their connection with Dr. Jane Goodall, talking about her achievements and her influence on them. They agreed that the art exhibition will be a successful attempt to spread Jane Goodall's environmental philosophy and encourage the public to take positive action to protect our home planet.

The exhibition will last until December 5, during which a number of lectures and talks will be held by renowned scholars and artists across the border.

Artworks at the exhibition

This exhibition is a tribute to the Chief Sponsor, Useless, and the Friendly Sponsors, oncsho, Love Recycling, Mineral Skin Paint, Love Recycling, Not Necessarily Cooperative, and Wilderness Botanical Gardens.