Australian museum director boosts understanding between people

CANBERRA — Mathew Trinca, director of the National Museum of Australia, says his interest in Chinese art started with calligraphy.

"The first time I saw a Chinese artwork was when I was quite young," he recalls. "I was struck by Chinese calligraphy. I was fascinated by how it has literary meaning, but is also art."

He saw that the painted characters showed the emotions of the calligrapher, and believed it reflected the "philosophical nature of the Chinese people".