“From Beijing” Works by the Faculty of Oil Painting, China Central Academy of Fine Arts was held at the New York Academy of Art, based on work by teachers from the Faculty of China Central Academy of Fine Arts which launched the Sino-America Art Academies Teaching Comparative Discussion at the New York Academy of Art on February 14, 2013.

The theme of the discussion was to expand on the topics of the obvious and even revolutionary changes of the educational art model around the world during the last hundred years, and a comparison of the different teaching modes of plastic art techniques based on the traditional figurative sketching course, represented by the New York Academy of Art and China Central Academy of Fine Arts, encouraging benefits for contemporary art creations, and an examination of the creation. It discussed the impact on the students of traditional training, and compared the relationship between the persistence of academic teaching in China and the United States, and contemporary art.

The discussion was presided over by Peter Drake, vice president of the New York Academy of Art. Prof. Xie Dongming, Dean of the Faculty of Oil Painting of China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Richard Vine, American editor and senior art critic, Jonathan Goodman, a contemporary art critic of long standing on contemporary Chinese art, and Lu Yuhua, an active curator in New York were invited to participate.

It coincided with the annual meeting of celebrating the 101st anniversary of American Artists Association in New York, and nearly 100 people participated in the discussion. Peter Drake and four guests spoke about the general issues in contemporary art and academic education, including a comparison of the Sino-American art educational modes, the pros and cons of the professional courses and traditional art education offered by the academies, the evolutions and course arrangements of the two academies, the impact of artistic environmental changes on the two countries to academic teaching and their countermeasures, and the diverse art teaching feasibility, expressing their personal understanding and views. Peter then invited the audience to question the guests, and they enthusiastically participated in the discussion about the art teaching in China and the United States.

The discussion reflected on art circles and educational circles, as well as the public in the US who are passionate on China and eager to learn the changes happening in China, as well the status of contemporary Chinese art. With the show Works by the Faculty of Oil Painting, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, being held in New York, as well the related the Sino-America Art Academy Teaching Discussion we realize the importance and necessity of art exchanges. The exchanges between teacher and students from CAFA and New York Academy of Art should be continued. At the same time, international cultural exchange programs should be encouraged. Only in the exchange and comparison can we discover, recognize the problem and find a solution in our art education, and development of ourselves.

Text by Xie Dongming from Faculty of Oil Painting Department, CAFA

Translated by Chen Peihua/CAFA ART INFO, Photography by Cao Yi