Bon voyage, as you will leave the campus;

Though we cannot meet each other today;

We will reunite in the future! 

“Together we bid farewell to the good time on campus and you will start a new chapter in your life. We see you off to embark on a new journey in your art career. Upon your graduation, I sincerely wish you will become outstanding Chinese artists in the new epoch! With our blessings, I hope you will enjoy a happy life that contributes to the better future of mankind!”

—Gao Hong, Party Secretary of CAFA

“Our dear class of 2020 can return to our campus in any future year to attend the on-site commencement ceremony again, CAFA will always be your most reliable harbor. I wish you all well as you set sail on a long voyage, riding against wind and waves with great ambition. 

—Fan Di’an, President of CAFA

2020 Commencement and Degree Conferment Ceremony of Central Academy of Fine Arts

Like the whistle on the wind, time has been engraved in the memories of CAFA campus during the spring, summer, autumn and winter in your mind. Upon the entrance examination, you have turned your fancy ideas of “Genetically Modified Fish” and “ Flying Dreams” into paintings. With the ideals of art, you have come to study in CAFA from all corners of the world, every moment of your youth in classrooms, studios or on the roads of sketching was still vivid in our minds…Now, you will say goodbye to your alma mater at home, once again you will hold up brushes, to depict the epoch, the future and the colorful life you have. 

At 9:00 am on June 28th, all the 1213 graduates with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Class of 2020 have put on the academic dress they have received from CAFA, attended the special graduation ceremony of CAFA online with their tutors, classmates and families. Members from the CAFA leadership team, Academic Committee, Degree Evaluation Committee, as well as those from all walks of life who care about the developments of CAFA, attended the online ceremony with all the graduates. The ceremony was presided over by Gao Hong, Party Secretary of CAFA. 

Flag-raising Ceremony at the Graduation Ceremony 

The ceremony was presided by Gao Hong, Party Secretary of CAFA. 

Su Xinping, Deputy President of CAFA, announced the decision to approve the graduation and degree conferment. There were four graduates who did not return home during the pandemic spread and they stayed on studying at CAFA. As representatives of graduates, they attended the ceremony and the President of CAFA Fan Di’an turned the tassels of their caps. Parents, relatives and friends of graduates were also entrusted by CAFA to turn the tassels. 

Fan Di’an, President of CAFA delivered a speech

On the special occasion of 2020, our dear class of 2020 has undergone a unique commencement ceremony. Fan Di’an, President of CAFA, expressed that, CAFA class of 2020 has celebrated the centennial birthday of CAFA and become alumni who have crossed the new century and embarked on a new journey, this is a historic occasion. The excellent heritage of CAFA and innovative sprint of the new epoch have become the background of students’ ideology and belief which make them more confident after graduation. Our class of 2020 has encountered an unexpected pandemic of COVID-19 and they have also come across grim challenges. Their creative thinking during this special period, has widened their explorations to social culture and individual minds, which pave the way for their future artistic practices and research. 

“Dear classmates, now your tassels have been turned and you are worthy of your hard work in the schools. The ancient Chinese etiquette regarding “straightening the cap” as the most important ritual, does not only mean moving towards a new life course, but also means a greater social responsibility. On your graduation, I sincerely hope and wish all of you will keep your artistic intention for the future and hold fast to your artistic conviction.” For the upcoming “future”, Fan Di’an hopes that everyone will adhere to the qualities, characters and features that the alumni of CAFA should have; while focusing on global culture and thinking about the epochal issues, graduates will embody the cultural responsibility of Chinese artists with their persistent exploration; stemmed from the land of China, graduates should grasp the Chinese themes, discover and express themselves from the soil they are living on, make contributions to the prosperity and development of Chinese art and further create new chapters of their own. 

Wang Xiaolin, Deputy Party Secretary of CAFA, announced the awarding decision for outstanding graduates, 152 “CAFA Outstanding Graduates” were evaluated in 2020, among them 71 won the title of “Beijing Excellent Graduate”.

“We need to persistently work hard to experience life and perceive the ability to create,” “cherish today, and feel calm about time,”“I hope all of you are filled with adoration for Nature, goodwill for human nature, love for art, randomness for utilities, sincerity for friends and hostility to vulgarity”….Teachers from various departments and schools sent their blessings to graduates who are about to start another journey in life. 

Graduates dressed in academic dress, recalled the most beautiful time and impressive events in CAFA and they said farewell to each other online. “Graduation is another beginning, although you will separate from each other from now on, CAFA is the secret code when our alumni meet again.” 

Su Xinping, Deputy President of CAFA announced the list of awards for graduation works. There were a total of 256 students who were awarded the 2020 Undergraduate Outstanding Works, Excellent Dissertations and Themed Creation Awards. 

Lyu Pinjing, Deputy President of CAFA announced the list of works collected by CAFA Art Museum. In 2020, there are a total of 128 artworks by 79 graduates included in the permanent collection of CAFA Art Museum.

Xu Bing, Director of the CAFA Academic Committee, announced the list of “First Step Award.” The winner of “First Step Award” was vacant in 2020. Ten graduates won the Nomination Award of “First Step Award”, including: Zhang Xichen from the School of Chinese Painting, You Qinhuang, Wu Yanzhen, Li Baige and Wang Jiaxing from the School of Fine Arts, Wang Changcheng from the School of Experimental Art, Liang Wenhua and Gao Ningyan from the School of Design, Lu Baiyun from the School of Architecture and Zhao Rong from the School of Humanities. 

Text by Wu Qiong, Photo by Song Manqing and He Yifan/Publicity Office of CAFA

Translated and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO