LONDON.- The British Council opened an exhibition of British art from the last 30 years that will tour four cities in China (Chengdu, Xi’an, Hong Kong New Territories and Suzhou), at a time of increased interest in cultural relations between China and the UK.

“Made In Britain: Contemporary Art from the British Council Collection 1980 – 2010” has been created in partnership with the Sichuan Provincial Museum, Xi’an Art Museum, Hong Kong Heritage Museum and Suzhou Museum, to provide the first opportunity for audiences in four regional cities in China to see original art works by leading British contemporary artists. Selected by Chinese curators working closely with the British Council’s Visual Arts Department, the exhibition has been drawn from the rich reserves of the British Council’s Collection of over 8,500 works of 20th and 21st century British art.

Launched on 17 December 2010 at the Sichuan Provincial Museum in Chengdu (the capital of Sichuan Province) the exhibition features over 50 works by a wide range of artists, including Keith Arnatt, Helen Chadwick, Peter Doig, Gilbert & George, Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Cornelia Parker and Mark Wallinger, to reflect the breadth and diversity of British art throughout the 30-year period 1980-2010.

“This exhibition defines the very nature and reach of the British Council’s Collection in taking works of art to far-flung parts of the world where, in most circumstances, borrowing works for such an arduous tour would be almost impossible,” explains Richard Riley, Head of Exhibitions at the British Council.

‘Made In Britain’ is one of a series of major British Council exhibitions organised specially for China in recent years. It follows the success of ‘The Future Demands Your Participation: Contemporary Art from the British Council Collection’, which opened at the Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, in February 2010 and builds on the success of the UK’s participation at Shanghai Expo which drew millions of visitors to the Expo Park during the six-month period May-October. This new exhibition also acts as a precursor to UK Now, a major UK arts festival which will take place across China in 2012.