Babucarr Etu Ndow,renowned Gambian artist,proprietor and coordinator of the Tunbung arts Village Gallery in Tujereng,Kombo South,western Region (WR),left Banul this week to attend the 9th edition of the famous China Changchum International Sculpture symposium.

The International artist exhibition is scheduled to start from 26th July and run through to September 5th 2008.The day long artist sculpture exhibition is expected to  bring together 42 internationally renowned artist drawn from different parts of the world.The arts exhibition  aimed among other things to promote international cultural exchange, to improve and help speed up  and inculcate  the spirit of community building through out the world and to also explore  and strengthen the role of artist in peace and community building.

Since the inception of the China Changchum international artist sculpture symposium in 1997 to date, more than 300 artist specilised in sculpture from a total of 172 countries the world over, have participated in and created  sculptures representin different characters.These sculptures touch on almost all aspects of life with special reference to different cultural norms and values of the different countries represnted at the forum.

The Gambian borned international artist,Mr Babucarr Ndow, is among the eight top  flight artist selected from Africa to attend and exhibit their works and represent their countries at the China Changchum sculpture symposium.Mr Ndow is expected to introduce and represent the Gambia at this international artist forum.He is also  expected to take a close look at the history of arts from both national and international perspective.Mr Ndow will introduce the Gambian arts with special reference to its traditiona, norms and values to share ideas and exprience with other participating artist and
representatives to the 40 day long international artist forum.

During the course of his stay in China Changchum,Mr Babucarr Ndow  will create a sculpture which shall be a symbol not only for peace and friendship, but also represent and speak for The Gambia and its cultural heritage. After the 40 days workshop, artistic works of Mr Ndow will be featured prominently and permanently in the China Changchum world sculpture park.

Speaking to the Arts and Culture deskman,shortly prior to his departure for the peoples'' Republic of China,Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow,described his trip as  a big boost and exposure to The Gambian arts industry and Africa at large, especially the fine arts. He further described international artist forum as a unique  opportunity to expand the dimention of The Gambian arts and culture,adding that ,it will help  a lot to expose and exhibit things that were not expose before. "Its a special exprience, achievement and exposure for the Gambian artist, especially the fine arts indutry of the country.

The China Changchum arts exhibition,according to Babucarr Etu Ndow,will concide with the forthcoming Olympic Games scheduled to take place in China this year.The Olympic Games, Mr Ndow  noted, will draw a heavy international media attention.