Connections Through Culture: Exploring new creative collaborations with China
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. They foster connections, understanding, and trust between the UK and countries worldwide through their work in arts and culture, education, and the English language.
One of the key programmes, Connections Through Culture supports artists and cultural organisations in developing new collaborations with partners across Asia-Pacific, including China. This initiative enables creatives to explore fresh ideas, expand their international networks, and co-develop innovative projects that reflect global conversations in the arts and creative industries. Through these projects, UK artists and organisations work closely with their Chinese counterparts to exchange ideas, share artistic approaches, and create work that responds to pressing global challenges.
About the venue, 798CUBE
798CUBE Art Museum is a contemporary exhibition space located in Beijing’s renowned 798 Art District. Designed by Studio Zhu-Pei and completed in 2020, the museum is a renovation project that blends industrial heritage with modern architectural forms. It features cast-in-place concrete cubes arranged around a central courtyard, reflecting the geometric and material language of the district’s former factory buildings. The venue is adjacent to other major cultural institutions like the Pace Art Museum and the Minsheng Museum of Modern Art, and serves as a hub for innovative art exhibitions, performances, and cultural exchange.
About Journey to the West
Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, written in the 16th century by Ming dynasty scholar Wu Cheng’en. It fictionalises the real-life 7th-century pilgrimage of the Buddhist monk Xuánzàng (known in the novel as Tripitaka or Tang Sanzang), who travelled to India to retrieve sacred scriptures.
The story blends history, mythology, and folklore, following Tripitaka and his three supernatural companions — Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), Zhu Bajie (Pigsy), and Sha Wujing (Sandy) — as they face 81 trials on their journey. Each character symbolises different human traits and spiritual challenges, making the novel a rich allegory for the path to enlightenment.
Known for its humour, adventure, and moral depth, Journey to the West explores themes of cooperation, perseverance, and spiritual growth. It has inspired countless adaptations, including the popular UK TV series Monkey, and remains a cornerstone of East Asian culture.[1]
References
[1] Journey to the West: Origin Story, Themes & Symbolism of the Famed ...