At 4:00 pm on July 7, 2015, along with a loud and clear bugle call resounding in the lobby of the National Art Museum of China, “Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of Chinese People’s Resistance War Against the Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War: the Relay – Sketch Exhibition of Teachers of the Central Academy of Fine Arts” was unveiled, meanwhile it also called for the horn of the descendants of the “New CAFA School” which appeared collectively and marched forward.

The guests who attended the opening ceremony included Zuo Zhongyi, a party member, Vice Chairman, Secretary of Secretariat of China Federation of Literary Art Circles, Zhang Xue, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Education Committee, Tang Heng, Director of the Literary and Art Bureau at the Central Propaganda Department, Yu Yadong, Deputy Inspector of the Department of Ideological and Political Work at the Ministry of Education, Gao Hong, Party Secretary of CAFA, Fan Di’an, Vice Chairman of China Artists Association, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Wu Weishan, Vice Chairman of China Artists Association, Director of the National Art Museum of China, An Yuanyuan, Deputy Director of the National Art Museum of China. In addition, the senior artists from CAFA, including Sheng Yang, Jin Zhilin, Yang Xianyang, Li Huaji, Ma Changli, Cao Chunsheng, Yuan Yunsheng, Sun Jingbo, Dai Shihe, etc., as well as Sun Hongpei and Wang Shaojun, Deputy Party Secretaries of CAFA, Su Xinping, Vice President of CAFA attended the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Wang Shaojun, the Chief Curator of the exhibition Fan Di’an initially addressed the gathering stating that: “CAFA has a profound academic tradition in the thematic creations which reflect social reality, performing through the variety of times in life and the national spirit. During the war years of the Chinese nation resisted against foreign aggression, the senior artists of CAFA took art as a weapon and devoted themselves to the torrent of war, using plenty of works to record the glorious victory of Chinese soldiers and civilians, depicting the great images of the Anti-Japanese War. The tradition is an invisible spiritual inspiration for today’s teachers and students, so a large number of young and middle-aged teachers actively respond to the initiatives planned and organized by the academy. For months, all the participators passionately came together to study the history of the Anti-Japanese War many times, and they were divided into groups, they respectively went to Taihang Mountains, Eastern China, Northeast and Southwest of China to experience the local life, they visited the war site, searched for the veterans of the war, experiencing the history that received a spiritual touch and shock.”

Wu Weishan highly praised the senior artists who had made outstanding contributions to the national liberation movement and construction of new China, he pointed out that the exhibition was the comprehensive presentation of the teaching direction, orientation of value and the artistic pursuit of CAFA, and also one of the major initiatives for the development of the academy in as implemented by the new leadership, at the same time, the exhibition kicked off a series of exhibitions held by the National Art Museum of China to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-fascist War. Later, Mr. Sun Jingbo gave a passionate speech on behalf of the senior artists of the academy, thus pushing the atmosphere to a climax. Shi Yu spoke as a representative of the teachers.

Relay: Exhibition Sections

The exhibition theme “relay” aims at reflecting the relay of CAFA toward the outstanding tradition on thoughts and the academic. It presents more than 70 pieces (sets) of miscellaneous work, covering oil painting, ink painting, watercolor, sculpture, public space design, which were recently created by more than 50 artists from CAFA.

The entrance to the exhibition showcases the literature images of the classic works created by the older generation artists, included Xu Beihong, Situ Qiao, Jiang Zhaohe, Liu Kaiqu, Li Hua, Ye Jianyu, Wu Zuoren, Hu Yichuan, Jiang Feng, Feng Fasi, Ai Zhongxin, Yan Han, Luo Gongliu, Zhang Ding, Gu Yuan, Zhan Jianjun, etc., the numerous works once played an important role in waking up and stimulating people in the Anti-Japanese War period.

The exhibition is composed of six major parts, respectively adopting the notes and the text that represents the feelings of the teachers from CAFA as the titles show:

Part 1: The beautiful scenery in red color would be the one seen by the young soldiers at that time. – Ye Na

Part 2: I draw Yan’an in People’s Memory. – Yuan Yuan

Part 3: Interpret the faith and determination to defeat the Japanese aggressors under hard conditions. –Zhang Junming

Part 4: Using a company to defeat the enemies in the mountain, is it worthy of it? It deserves it! – From the note of Su Haijiang who interviewed the Anti-Japanese War veteran

Part 5: “Peace” is more than a peace dove. – Li Li

Special Part: Wanping Town is full of the memory and history of the Anti-Japanese War

The exhibition is held at Hall 13-17 in building 3, and will continue to July 15, 2015.

Text by Wang Xuanyi, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO

Photo by Yang Yanyuan, Xu Fan/CAFA ART INFO