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It gives me great pleasure
to submit a short message on the occasion
of the 20th anniversary of the establishment
of Champion Technology. I want to congratulate
Paul Kan and his team on their remarkable
achievements and express the wish that
the next twenty years will be as full
and satisfactory as those that have just
come to an end.
Champion Technology operates
in the modern world; it deals, by definition,
with innovation and state-of-the-art technology.
To celebrate its anniversary, however,
Paul has chosen to offer us an intriguing
glimpse into the past, into the world
of ancient Chinese art, by organizing
such an outstanding exhibition as "Peace
and Harmony: The Divine Spectra of Avalokitesvara
from Tibet, China".
It was a significant
decision. I have always been convinced
that the memory of the past is the key
to facing the future with confidence.
It is a lesson that descendants of ancient
nations, such as ours, do not need to
learn at school; it is something that
they feel in their blood.
"Long distances
cannot separate friends who have a similar
heart; even if they are thousands of miles
away, they will always be close."
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao used these centuries-old
Chinese verses to describe the relationship
between Italy and China, old civilizations
whose roots reach into the mists of time.
Indeed, our two nations
have greatly contributed to the world's
historical and cultural heritage. And,
although our societies have evolved differently,
we have addressed the fundamental needs
of the human heart in similar ways, regardless
of geography.
In his learned preface,
Paul has traced the far-reaching influence
of Avalokitesvara and has detailed the
importance of the female form in Oriental
religions. Not surprisingly, a similar
pattern can easily be found in Western
religious thought: in Italy as in China,
in Europe as in Asia, mankind has looked
to the female deity for solace and help,
cried to her for relief from the sufferings
and hardships of life.
In the Mediterranean
basin, in Northern and Eastern Europe,
the mark of the Goddess can be found in
religious practices and popular traditions
since time immemorial. From Epona of the
Celts to the Triple Goddess of ancient
Greece, from Egyptian Isis to Mesopotamian
Ishtar, from Roman Bona Dea to Etruscan
Mater Matuta, from Italian Madonnas to
the Black Virgins of the Slavs, the deity
is always present, representing life,
nurturance, stability, love, compassion.
Therefore, as I watch
with growing fascination the beautiful
artifacts included in this exhibition,
I feel a familiar sensation, an eerie
sense of déjà-vu. I trust that all
visitors will feel the same.
I want to conclude by
genuinely thanking Paul for bringing modern
and ancient China together on this unique
occasion and for reminding us that, although
material pursuits and prosperity are very
important, there is more to life than
that.
Alessandro De Pedys
Consul General of Italy
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