China embassy concerns lead to canceled art exhibition in Stockholm

The East Asian Museum in Stockholm has abruptly canceled a highly anticipated exhibition of works by the renowned Chinese artist Qi Baishi, just one month before its scheduled opening. The exhibition was a significant part of the museum's reopening festivities following renovations.

The decision to cancel stems from a dispute involving a Chinese partner institution, the Beijing Fine Art Academy, which withdrew its promised delivery of artworks. This action was reportedly prompted by concerns raised by the Chinese embassy in Stockholm regarding a separate artwork intended for the exhibition's opening. The artwork in question, "The Sun of Zeelandia" by Taiwanese artist Kao Jun-Honn, explores European colonialism and is funded by a different grant.

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It is very sad and very difficult. But we have ended up in a situation where our partner has not been able to deliver according to what is in the agreement.

Britta Söderqvist, the museum's director-general, described the situation as "very sad and very difficult." She explained that the museum's partner "has not been able to deliver according to what is in the agreement." The collaboration for the Qi Baishi exhibition had been in planning for approximately two years, and dialogue with the Beijing Fine Art Academy had previously been professional and functional.

However, in July, the head of the Beijing Fine Art Academy expressed "deep concern" in an email to Söderqvist. He cited Kao Jun-Honn's career and stated that the artist "is in serious conflict with the historical consensus that China has long maintained." China considers Taiwan, which has been self-governing since 1949, a part of its territory. The museum maintains that Kao Jun-Honn's work is a separate project and has no direct connection to China, having been selected based on artistic merit through an international call.

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stands in serious conflict with the historical consensus that China has long maintained.