40 years of Sino-Irish friendship celebrated in art exhibition

"Our journey as artists is in this exhibition," said Fion Gunn, an Irish artist whose works are featured in the show with fellow Irish artist Niamh Cunningham and Chinese artists Gulistan, Li Xinmo and Chen Qingqing.

Gulistan, who teaches at Capital Normal University in Beijing, said travel and journeys are important in art and in life. "I want to let my students know that art isn't just for the studio. You've got to experience it, to meet people in real life," she said.

The exhibition's opening ceremony drew about 80 art enthusiasts on Saturday. Among them was Eoin O'Leary, Ireland's ambassador to China.

"We're delighted that the exhibition is here," O'Leary said, noting the longstanding friendship between the two countries. Among the fruits of that relationship in Dublin are the annual two-week Spring Festival celebration and the Confucius Institute.