On January 19, 2018, co-sponsored by the Center for Printmaking Creation at China National Academy of Arts and Today Art Museum, “Win-Win Cooperation Belt and Road International Printmaking Invitational Exhibition” opened at Today Art Museum in Beijing, following the shows in Bulgaria and Dunhuang. It is endeavoring to fulfill the deepening of “Belt and Road” initiative, in which printmaking artists from 65 countries along the Belt and Road gather together to conduct diversified and uniquely beautiful artistic creations and make contributions to the cultural exchange of the countries along the Belt and Road, in the form of art. Liu Wanming, Executive Deputy Dean of the Graduate School of China National Academy of Arts, Dr. Gao Peng, Director of Today Art Museum, Wang Xiao, Head of the Center for Printmaking Creation at China National Academy of Arts, Kang Jianfei, Associate Professor from the Department of Printmaking, CAFA, respectively delivered a speech.

Printmaking, as a crucial category in visual art, is of great significance in the current international art exchange in light of its inclusivity and extensive span. Tan Ping, Vice Dean of China National Academy of Arts and Chief Planner of “Win-Win Cooperation/Belt and Road International Printmaking Invitational Exhibition”, wrote in the preface that it is well-known that Chinese people invented engraving typography 1300 years ago, which greatly influenced the whole process of human civilization with its spread through the ancient Silk Road. It can be said that the invention of printing provides an effective way for different civilizations to communicate. Print art, originated in the process of print development, this demonstrates the diversified looks during the continuous development of society and printing techniques, and has eventually become the most effective common language for artistic exchange and transmission. The “Win-Win Cooperation/Belt and Road International Printmaking Exchange Project”, utilizing printmaking as the common language as a pointcut, makes practical contributions to “Silk Road for Art” and people-to-people bond through culture and art by holding exhibitions, exchanges, forums and public education based on the needs of the epoch. The project invites artists from countries along the Belt and Road and outstanding domestic artists to take up residency in the China National Academy of Arts · Shenzhen Guanlan Creation & Education Base to conduct exchanges with other artists and civilizations, and create printmaking works related to the theme of the project.

The exhibition features a total of 102 printmaking works by 26 Chinese artists and 25 foreign artists. The 25 foreign artists come from the regions along the Belt and Road, including Bulgaria, Poland, Serbia, Cambodia, Russia, Iraq, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Hungary, Greece, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bahrain, Slovenia, Croatia, India, Turkey, Ukraine, Indonesia, and Thailand. The artists’ nationalities cover the Asian-African continent, and it is against the artistic pattern of traditionally being centered in Europe and the United States.

Entering the exhibition hall, one will be surprised by the diversified and uniquely beautiful artistic creations by artists from different countries. Because of the common technical features and media features, printmaking has a comprehensive global consensus on aesthetics; on the other hand, in the long historical process, various countries have formed their own printmaking themes, printmaking language and printmaking concepts. As trade and economic exchanges have deepened, printmaking and printing started the early exchanges and interactions between different countries and civilizations. Wang Xiao, Head of the Center for Printmaking Creation at China National Academy of Arts, said that the exhibition presented the latest achievements in printmaking by artists from different nationalities. Artists from various countries expressed their own concerned content such as figures, birds and flowers, or geographical environments, abstract spaces, expressing their own stories, traditions or contemporary ideas, presenting a variety of methods. However, perhaps because of geographical proximity, people along the road are psychologically “intimate”. Although they have varied styles, it is easy to understand. Artists from different countries have common problems and reflect on the times, and their different ways of expression are unified under the theme of the times.

A donation event was held after the end of the opening ceremony, the project will not only donate collections to domestic and international art galleries, museums, professional art institutions, but also will donate some works to public institutions concerning the Belt and Road, such as schools, hospitals, libraries and theaters. This includes 51 works exhibited in this exhibition that will also be donated to the Today Art Museum for its permanent collection. The project, through art, is devoted to promoting mutual understanding and learning of artists from countries along the Belt and Road, enhancing friendship and people-to-people bonds, achieving peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and benefits.

This exhibition remains on view till March 8.

Text and photo by Wu Huixia/CAFA ART INFO

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

About the Exhibition

Title: Win-Win Cooperation/Belt and Road International Printmaking Invitational Exhibition

Curator: Kang Jianfei

Duration: January 19 – March 8, 2018 (Closed on Monday and Spring Festival)

Venue: 1/F & 2/F Exhibition Hall of Building No.3, Today Art Museum in Beijing

Organizers: Center for Printmaking Creation at China National Academy of Arts, Today Art Museum

Co-organizers: China National Academy of Arts · Shenzhen Guanlan Creation & Education Base, Today Art Museum

Participating Artists:

Ahmed Sakr, Alja Kosar, Andrea Dezs?, Awni Sami, Damian Idzikowski, Karol Felix, Jamal A.Rahim, Kabi Raj Lama, Kamruzzaman Sagar, Kristina Paabus, Marija Lopac, Marine Ky, Ulyana Turchenko, Oleg Mikhailov, Piotr Skowron, Robert Baramov, Swapnesh Vaigankar, Syahrizal Pahlevi, Taida Jasarevic, Thammasin Darunkan, Kestutis Vasiliunas, Vasiliki Kolipetsa, Vera Kekic, Burhan Ahmeti, Victoria Bilogan, Zhu Chunlin, Zhao Jiancheng, Yang Feiyun, Xu Jun, Tian Liming, Pan Ying, Long Liyou, Liu Wanming, He Jiaying, Chen Mengxin, Yang Yue, Li Kang, Han Xuezhong, Jiang Lu, Kang Jianfei, Liu Decai, Zhang Wan, Song Guangzhi, Wu Jiantang, Wang Xiao, Fu Bin, Wang Mi, Pan Li, Wen Zhongyan, Zhang Hui, Li Xiaoguang