On June 5, 2015, organized by CAFA Art Museum, in collaboration with the GREAT Britain campaign and the British Council, “New British Inventors: Inside Heatherwick Studio” opened at CAFA Art Museum. Curated by Kate Goodwin from the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the exhibition is the first in Asia to focus on the unique projects of the Heatherwick Studio. The exhibition highlights the emergence of one of the world’s foremost new design talents and is designed to be at the heart of a wider GREAT Britain campaign to promote British creativity, innovation and design.

The exhibition officially opened at 3:00 pm. The opening was hosted by Wang Huangsheng, Director of CAFA Art Museum, Fan Di’an, President of CAFA, Ms. Barbara Woodward, Ambassador of the British Embassy, Beijing, and the the artist, Mr. Heatherwick who addressed the opening ceremony. Xu Bing, Director of the Academic Committee of CAFA, Xie Xiaofan, Deputy Director of the National Art Museum of China, Lv Pinjing, Dean of the School of Architecture, CAFA, Wang Zhong, Dean of the School of Urban Design, CAFA, Cheng Qiming, Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture, CAFA, Song Xiewei, Jin Jun, Lin Cunzhen, Deputy Deans of the School of Design, Xu Jia, Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Office, as well as curator Kate Goodwin, and Carma Elliot, Minister of Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, Beijing, and other honored guests attended the opening ceremony.

Fan Di’an, President of CAFA initially congratulated the exhibition, he said Mr. Heatherwick achieved greatness in the field of architectural design, etc., through the exhibition the public will better understand the innovative thinking of the Heatherwick studio and it was an exhibition starting from Beijing, moving toward the world. British Ambassador Barbara Woodward briefly introduced the artistic achievements of the artist Heatherwick, as well as the 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange. Ms. Barbara Woodward enthusiastically hoped that more economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries would transpire and through a rich cultural cooperation will enhance the trust and friendship between the two countries. The artist Mr. Heatherwick recalled the design work for the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, he said the successfully implementation of UK Pavilion received the strong support and recognition from China. Mr. Heatherwick said that the “dandelion-style” shaping of UK Pavilion was intimately tied up with Chinese apperception of “nature”, while China was accepting global civilization in a more open and inclusive attitude.

The exhibition continues to June 24.

About Mr. Heatherwick and His Studio

Thomas Heatherwick is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects; a Senior Research Fellow at the Victoria & Albert Museum; and he has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Royal College of Art, University of Dundee, University of Brighton, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Manchester. He has won the Prince Philip Designers Prize, and, in 2004, was the youngest practitioner to be appointed a Royal Designer for Industry. In 2010, Thomas was awarded the RIBA’s Lubetkin Prize and the London Design Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to design. In 2013 Thomas was awarded a CBE for his services to the design industry.

Established by Thomas Heatherwick in 1994, the Heatherwick Studio is recognized for its work in architecture, urban infrastructure, sculpture, design and strategic thinking. Today a team of 160, including architects, designers and makers work from a combined studio and workshop in Kings Cross, London. At the heart of the studio’s work is a profound commitment to finding innovative design solutions, with a dedication to artistic thinking and the latent potential of materials and craftsmanship. This is achieved through a working methodology of collaborative rational inquiry, undertaken in a spirit of curiosity and experimentation.

In the twenty years of its existence, the Heatherwick Studio has worked in many countries, with a wide range of commissioners and in a variety of regulatory environments. Through this experience, the studio has acquired a high level of expertise in the design and realization of unusual projects, with a particular focus on the large scale. The studio’s work includes a number of nationally significant projects for the UK, including the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the Olympic Cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games and the New Bus for London.

The tour is aligned with the completion of major new Heatherwick studio projects within the Asian region and built upon increasing levels of interest in their work. In each city of the tour the exhibition will attract both industry specialists and a general design audience. A major promotional campaign is conducted jointly by the tour partners and is accompanied by an ambitious events programme that includes Thomas Heatherwick launching the exhibition in each city and additional workshops, digital campaigns and participatory competitions.

2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange

2015 is a milestone in the history of cultural relationship between China and UK. This year will be the first cultural exchange year between China and Britain, under such a framework, a series of high level cultural and creative events will be collectively shown in the two countries.

“2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange” is divided into two parts: firstly, a UK season themed “Next Generation” in China from March until July, led by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy; then a Chinese season in the UK themed “Creativity China” will be heldby the Chinese Ministry of Culturefrom July to October.

“2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange” will offer an excellent national platform for individuals, organizations and governments in the arts and creative industries from both countries, to closely communicate and cooperate, and constantly inspire vivid cooperation ideas.

About the Exhibition

Curator: Kate Goodwin

Organizer: CAFA Art Museum, the British Council, GREAT Britain campaign

Opening Ceremony: June 5, 2015

Duration: June 4 – June 21, 2015

Venue: Lobby Space, CAFA Art Museum

Text by Yu Ya, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO

Photo by Zhang Wenzhi/CAFA ART INFO