As French President Emmanuel Macron embarked on his fourth state visit to China since taking office, the China–France friendship once again drew global attention. To understand how this friendship manifests in everyday life, one may look to the A2Z Art Gallery on the banks of the River Seine in Paris.

Founded by Fang Xianqiu and his family, whose ancestral home is in Panyu district, Guangzhou, the gallery welcomed President Macron and his wife this May. For this overseas Chinese family in France, the visit was both an affirmation and the highest recognition of their long-standing efforts to connect China and France through art.

Fang Xianqiu was born in 1944 in Hai Phong, a coastal city in northern Vietnam. In the 1980s, he moved to France with his family to start a new life.

As a father of seven, he found that earning a living was his most pressing challenge. Yet art, often seen as costly and impractical, unexpectedly became his path forward. "We struggled for years in small towns, and Paris felt far out of reach. But since Paris is known as a renowned capital of art, perhaps art could be our key to entering the city," he recalled.

Fang acted with determination. He sent two of his sons to work at what was then France's largest oil-painting materials and framing company, each learning a different craft. Later, he arranged for his fifth son to join a company specializing in manufacturing frames for artworks.

After years of preparation, Fang believed the time was right. Following a family discussion, they rented a small shop in the 20th arrondissement of Paris and started their own business. "At first, none of us imagined we would succeed. But here we are 28 years later. Today, we have grown into one of France's major suppliers of oil-painting materials and framing services, firmly rooted in the country."

Up to this point, the story had yet to mention A2Z Art Gallery. Fang went back in time more than a decade ago: "My seventh daughter-in-law, Li Ziwei, came from Guangzhou to France to study arts management and met my son Fang Xiaoxin. Two years after they married, a new idea emerged during a family meeting: why not open another gallery? That was how A2Z was born."

A2Z Art Gallery, now run by Fang's seventh son Fang Xiaoxin and his wife Li Ziwei, has helped many Chinese artists hold their first solo exhibitions in France and brought French artists to China as well. In September this year, Macron's stepdaughter Laurence Auzière Jourdan held her debut exhibition in Hangzhou, co-organized by A2Z and hosted at the Xiao Feng Art Museum. The exhibition theme, "Bridges and Currents: The DNA Symbiosis of Sino-French Art," vividly reflected the gallery's mission.

"Our work is to promote artistic and cultural exchange between China and France," said Li Ziwei. She noted that many French people are increasingly curious about Chinese art and culture. "In recent years, China has developed rapidly. More French people want to visit China, witness Chinese modernization with their own eyes, and experience its culture and intangible cultural heritage."

From the suburbs of Paris to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, the family has journeyed for more than 40 years. It is said that keeping in mind the journey we have traversed will enable us to advance along the right path. While establishing himself in the art world, Fang also serves as president of the Panyu Fushan Association in France.

"Overseas Chinese are a window through which the world learns about China, and a bridge for China to engage with the world," Fang said. For over 20 years, he has personally organized groups of overseas Chinese children in France to visit Guangzhou for youth camps as well as root-seeking and family-connection activities. "Many young people developed a sense of connection with China after taking part. They share stories about China's development with those around them. I am glad to see this. Overseas Chinese must never forget their roots."

祖籍广州番禺的华侨家族：用艺术架起中法交流的桥梁

当法国总统马克龙开启其任内第4次访华之旅，中法友谊再度成为焦点。中法友谊在日常生活中有何体现？要寻找答案，不妨将目光转向法国巴黎塞纳河畔的A2Z画廊。

这家画廊，由祖籍广州番禺的方显秋一家创办。今年5月，A2Z画廊接待了法国总统马克龙及其夫人。对这个法国华侨家族而言，马克龙的到访是一种肯定，更是他们以艺术连通中法的最佳回响。

1944年，方显秋出生于越南北部的沿海城市海防。上世纪80年代，他携家带口去往法国，重新开始。

身为7个孩子的父亲，谋生是方显秋当时面临的最大挑战。向来被认为“烧钱”的艺术，“逆向”进入了他的视野：“我们一路在小城市摸爬滚打，巴黎似乎非常遥远。但是，既然巴黎是有名的艺术之都，艺术就可能成为我们进入巴黎的关键。”

方显秋在这件事上表现出十足的行动力。他将两个儿子先后送进当时法国最大的油画材料和装裱公司打工，各自学习不同的手艺；随后，又将第5个儿子送进了一家专门制造画框的公司。

历经几年积淀，方显秋认为时机已然成熟。一次家庭会议后，他们决定在巴黎二十区租一家小店面，自主创业。“一开始，我们都不敢想象能成功，没想到一做就是28年。现在，我们已经成为法国较大的油画材料供应和装裱企业，在法国立足扎根。”

故事讲到这里，还未见A2Z画廊的踪影。方显秋将时间倒回十几年前：“我的七儿媳李子薇，从广州来法国学习艺术管理，和我的儿子方孝信结缘。结婚两年后，我们在一次家庭会议上碰撞出新的想法：不如再开一个画廊？A2Z便由此诞生了。”

A2Z画廊由方显秋的第七子方孝信及其妻子李子薇掌舵，促成了许多中国艺术家在法国的首次个展，反之亦然。今年9月，马克龙继女劳伦斯（Laurence Auzière）在杭州的首展，由A2Z画廊联合主办，在肖峰艺术馆落地。画展主题“桥与路：中法艺术的DNA互生”，正是A2Z画廊的使命写照。

“我们的工作是促进中法艺术文化的交流。”李子薇观察到，法国人对中国的艺术文化抱有好奇，“特别是这几年，中国发展得很快。更多法国人希望能去中国，亲眼看看中国式现代化，感受中国的文化和非遗”。

从巴黎市郊到圣日耳曼德佩区，这个法国华侨家族走了40多年。不忘来时路，方知向何行，除了深耕艺术行业，方显秋还有一个身份是法国番禺富善社社长。

“华侨华人是世界了解中国的窗口，也是中国走向世界的桥梁。”方显秋身体力行，连续20多年组织法国华人华侨子弟，回穗参加青少年夏令营及寻根恳亲活动。“许多青少年参加活动后，对中国产生了认同感，向身边的人讲述中国的发展。我很高兴看到这一切，华人华侨不能忘记自己的根。”

统筹丨蒋铮 王漫琪
文、图丨记者 古司祺 驻巴黎特约记者 唐颖岑
视频丨记者 古司祺  林丹丹 驻巴黎特约记者 唐颖岑
翻译丨曾敏
审校丨肖凯欣