During her four-year stay in Norway, artist Yan Donko, wife of the Austrian Ambassador and IF Board member, travelled widely, seeing the beauty of Norwegian nature and learning about the country’s ancient customs, traditions, architecture and Norse mythology. She uses Chinese art techniques to capture the uniqueness and diversity of Norwegian landscapes and motifs. Yan believes there are differences, but also similarities, between Norwegian mythology and Taoism. She paints a Chinese dragon above the mountains of Lofoten, the sacred tree Yggdrasil, the giant wolf Fenrir, a charming church with a displeased cat in the forefront, and many more, some of which were exhibited last year. Her paintings are framed or mounted as hanging scrolls. One is 20 m long!
At this Diplomatic Salon, held prior to Yan and Ambassador Wilhelm Donko’s departure to Bangkok for their next posting, Yan will present certain aspects of Norse Mythology from an Asian perspective.
The discussion will be followed by Austrian wine, goulash and apple strudel.