On June 25, 2013, “Practicing” art project was officially launched at CAFA. The Start of A Long Journey – 2013 “Practicing” Art Project is led by CAFA, based on the national edition of “The Start of A Long Journey”, jointly developed by the committee of “The Start of A Long Journey” and Beijing Come & Go Center for Arts, the practice project is themed around the art of urban space and community, for the outstanding young graduates from the nine key art institutes. “Practicing” means practicing personally, “the start” of a long journey “starts” right now, and is a long-term special term about urban public space, community art practice, academic exchange, and national aesthetic education. The Start of A Long Journey – 2013 “Practicing” Art Project is a professional, systematic, high profile modern urban aesthetic practice, by a creative team based on the young artists from “The Start of A Long Journey”, practicing on the platform of the “Shuiwan 1979” project. It will produce beauty and value for the modern Chinese city, leading the public to feel the beauty and strength bit by bit in the nuances of daily life.

The press conference of The Start of A Long Journey – 2013 “Practicing” Art Project was held at 16:00. Liu Jun, Executive Director of Beijing Come & Go Center for Arts, the planner of the event said, he hoped that with the promotion of the artists of the special project “The Start of A Long Journey”, it would introduce the talent into the artistic construction of future Chinese cities and community public spaces, improving the comprehensive strength of planning, design and construction of the public art of the city and community.

Xu Bing, renowned artist, convener of “The Start of A Long Journey” said: “Art comes from life, and goes back to life.” Bringing art back to life, removing the complicated interpretation of art, community is the most figurative carrier of life, to explore the relationships between art and the community, bringing art into the community and life, in the most direct way.

Hu Jiujiu, deputy editor in chief of New Weekly said: It was significant to promote art into lives, which required more people to participate in it, finding out more was to transform art into life.

Luo Lei, General Manager of Eslite Real Estate Development Company said, “The urban aesthetic practice plays an increasing important role in enhancing the value of the city, and the beauty of China that can be practiced from the cells of the city and bits of life.”

“Shuiwan 1979” project, in addition to making “art” and “art community” an open subject, aims to establish a “relationship between humans and the body of the city”, making art and life as an organic combination. With this, young artists have great opportunities to think about public spaces and examine the relationships between art and public life. Meanwhile, through their practices and thinking, a new charm and value of the city can be excavated. It will be an important step for “The Start of A Long Journey”.

About “Practicing” art project

Organizer: Central Academy of Fine Arts

Supporters: Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, China Academy of Art, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Hubei Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Art & Design, Tsinghua University

Project Consultant: Xu Bing

Art Review Committees: nominated in the relevant fields, to attract social forces to participate in it. Project Planning: Tang Bin, Luo Lei, Liu Jun Project Executive: Liu Jun Organizers: Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing Come & Go Center for Arts

Sponsor: Shenzhen Eslite Real Estate Development Company

Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO