Stein Olav Henrichsen, director of the Munch Museum, and the Chinese version of Edvard Munch: Complete Paintings [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The Chinese version of Edvard Munch: Complete Paintings, published by two Zhejiang publishers, was officially launched in Beijing on Oct 16 with the witness of Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja.

The new publication is so far the most complete and systematic Chinese collection of the Norwegian expressionist artist's paintings and research materials. Its launch was considered an important cultural event during the King's China visit in October 2018.

Munch (1863-1944) is one of the greatest Norwegian painters who excelled at reflecting people's spiritual world through strong colors. His most renowned work The Scream is a widely recognized painting around the world and has won him excellent global reputation.

Zhejiang Publishing United Group (ZPUG) and Zhejiang People's Fine Arts Publishing House had worked on the Chinese publication of 1,871 Munch's artworks for almost four years in collaboration with Norwegian art institutes.

The translation and compilation were once hindered by the mixture of different European languages in the original version, during which editors asked for help from a group of China's top linguistic scholars to tackle the problem. Meanwhile, to restore the original look of Munch's paintings to the greatest extent possible, the publishers sent samples to the Munch Museum in Oslo, capital of Norway asking for professional suggestions.

Norway's Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide addressed the launching ceremony, saying that Munch's thoughts are part of Norwegian culture and they belong to the whole world.

Bao Hongjun, chairman of ZPUG, hailed the publication a significant achievement of China-Norway cultural exchanges.

The Munch Museum, National Museum of China and Shanghai Museum reached an agreement to co-host art exhibitions of Munch's artworks in Beijing and Shanghai in August 2019 to offer Chinese people opportunities to take close look at the Norwegian masterpieces.

"The exhibitions will help Munch win a group of young Chinese followers," Soreide believed.

The Munch Museum, National Museum of China and Shanghai Museum agree to co-host exhibitions of Munch's artworks in 2019. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Munch's most renowned painting The Scream [Photo/zjol.com.cn]