Traveling exhibition of Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal presented by the Andy Warhol Museum is on view at the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing.

"The exhibition, in the chronological order, systematically and comprehensively reveals Andy Warhol’s striking and splendid career life with his paintings, prints, photos, installations, films and TV plays. The audience will not only be exposed to Andy Warhol’s representative masterpieces familiar to them, but also to the creation and ideas behind the works, in addition to the works’ relationship with American artistic and social states at that time. With all the information, the audience will see a 'true' Andy Warhol," said Wang Huangsheng, Director of CAFA Art Museum, "Interestingly, while Andy Warhol’s grand solo show is held, another internationally significant contemporary artist--Joseph Beuys’s exhibition is held synchronously in CAFA Art Museum. The two significant exhibitions of the two contemporary artists, known as 'the most important and influential' figures in contemporary European and American cultures, encounter at CAFA Art Museum, which undoubtedly provide an important and unprecedented opportunity for Chinese art and culture circles to learn, understand and study on the structure and development of contemporary western art."

By Eric C. Shiner, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum

When he made his first international trip in 1956—a journey around the world, including stops in Japan and Thailand— Andy Warhol would have had little indication that a show dedicated to his art would return to Asia over five decades later, heralding him as one of the most famous and talented artists to ever live. Now, in 2013, we at The Andy Warhol Museum in the artist’s hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are thrilled to be able to share hundreds of rare artworks, films, photographs and other ephemera with audiences across the continent, and most especially in Beijing, at the amazing Central Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum.

We expect visitors to the exhibition to revel in Warhol’s world, steeped as it is in popular culture, innovation and the American dream. We know that some images will be instantly recognizable, whereas others will be fresh and challenging. After traversing the beautifully designed spaces at the CAFA Art Museum, visitors will walk away knowing not only more about Warhol, but also Pop Art, avant-garde film, American celebrity culture and dozens of other areas of life that Warhol focused on in his career.

We wish to thank everyone at the CAFA Art Museum for making this show possible, including new Director Wang Huangsheng, who finalized all aspects of the show. Special thanks go to Curator Dr. Wang Chunchen for his hard work and dedication in bringing the exhibition to Beijing. It was a pleasure working with you and your staff. We also wish to thank China Arts and Entertainment Group for its great help for this Beijing exhibition.

We are especially indebted to BNY Mellon for helping to underwrite the costs of the show here in Beijing, as well as the other venues in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Jim McDonald and Brian Lang in the Pittsburgh office were dedicated to the exhibition from its inception. Stephen Lackey, BNY Mellon’s Asia Chair, has been extraordinarily supportive of this tour and Feng Min Chien in the Hong Kong office has worked diligently on all aspects of the project. We thank all of them for allowing us to share our beloved collection with the world.

The Museum must also thank the additional sponsors who have helped to make this show a reality, including Bloomberg, Christie’s, The Economist, 21st Century Business Herald and Caixin Media whose support has allowed us to organize symposiums about Warhol at all venues during the run of the show.

The U.S. Embassy has been essential in guiding us throughout this landmark cultural exchange. We are particularly grateful to the staff of the Beijing office.

Finally, I am most indebted to my team of skilled professionals at the Museum in Pittsburgh for making all aspects of this project sing in perfect harmony. Special thanks go to Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh President David Hillenbrand for his stalwart support of this exhibition. On our staff, I wish to thank Rick Armstrong, Rachel Baron- Horn, Greg Burchard, Nicholas Chambers, Abby Franzen- Sheehan, Ben Harrison, Geralyn Huxley, Josh Jeffery, Heather Kowalski, Jesse Kowalski, Jennifer Melvin, Patrick Moore, Amber Morgan, Greg Pierce, Tresa Varner, Matt Wrbican, our amazing art handlers, registrars, our attorney Maria Bernier, and our colleagues at Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh who played a role in preparing for this, our largest show to date. We also thank The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York City for their support in all that we do.

We hope that you enjoy the show!

Photo by Hu Zhiheng/CAFA ART INFO

About the exhibition

Duration: 29 September – 15 November, 2013

Opening: 29 September, 15:00

Venue: CAFA Art Museum, 2B Gallery and 4th Floor Gallery

Courtesy of CAFA Art Museum and the Andy Warhol Museum, for further information please visit www.cafamuseum.org or?www.warhol.org.