On May 1, 2024 CAFA Graduation Season was officially unveiled at CAFA Art Museum. Just as the theme “Direction of the Heart” contains good wishes and sincere expectations for Class of 2024 at CAFA, 2024 CAFA Graduation Season does not only contain their art achievements,  their enthusiasm and perseverance in creation are also reflected, which further conveys the imagination and expectations of young students as they embark on the road to the future.

2024·Traditional Chinese Oil Extraction Workshop, Oil on canvas, 240×220cm, 2024

2024·Yazhong Traditional Chinese Oil Extraction Workshop

By Cao Yamin, Oil Painting Department of CAFA

Oil-extracting with wooden mortars is a traditional handicraft that belongs to the “intangible cultural heritage”, and it is also a warm memory that stays in my childhood. What I want to tell through this graduation work “2024·Traditional Chinese Oil Extraction Workshop” is the warmth deeply rooted in human nature and the inner power that conveys this warmth.

2024·Traditional Chinese Oil Extraction Workshop, Oil on canvas, 240×220cm, 2024

This warmth includes the warmth of the physical state and the warmth of humanity that transcends the physical state. The warmth of the physical state refers to the heat generated by the oil mill’s own space during its operation, and the warmth of human nature refers to the care I received in my childhood.

Creative Process of 2024·Traditional Chinese Oil Extraction Workshop

What I hope to find in artistic creation is my expression of real life, extracting the original flavor of life, rather than pursuing a certain sense of form. This reality may be biased, perhaps there are some errors and problems, but this is life, a real life, not a hypocritical, false one, or putting on a show for others to see. Just like the theme I chose for the Traditional Chinese Oil Extraction Workshop, it is not a decoration in popular art language. It seems to be a bit crude and rough, but it is the most authentic presentation. It is not artificial, and it is a quality expression and voice behind the core of life from my genuine experience. 

Artist Cao YaminCourtesy of Cao Yamin, edited by CAFA ART INFO.