On November 12th, 2022, “the Fourth IAPA Printmaking Biennale”, hosted by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Yunnan Arts University, International Academic Printmaking Alliance, International Academy Printmaking Alliance and International Printmaking Institute of CAFA, and organized by Yunnan Arts University, kicked off at the Kunming Museum in Yunnan Province, China. The academic host of this exhibition is Su Xinping; the curators include Wang Huaxiang and Guo Hao, and the executive curators are Zhou Jirong, Kong Liang and Kong Guoqiao. The Biennale features over 300 artworks from more than 20 countries.
In 2016, the International Academic Printmaking Alliance (IAPA) initiated by the Central Academy of Fine Arts was established in Beijing. It is a platform for the development of printmaking around the world and the exchange of ideas with great significance to promoting the understanding and integration of studies on printmaking worldwide. Since the establishment of the Alliance, we have been holding International Biennale. Until now, we have successfully held three IAPA exhibitions and academic symposiums. The exhibitions in the past six years have added unique vitality to the communication of printmaking in the world.
Exhibition View
Due to the sudden eruption and variation of the coronavirus, the huge disasters caused to all countries in the world have profoundly affected our usual social and living order. The Alliance Committee is constantly making new plans to deal with such special situations. In 2022, our wish is that the Fourth IAPA Printmaking Biennale will return to normal, where artists from all over the world can experience the exhibition offline and communicate face-to-face. However, the reality is that the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting us in many ways, and the Alliance decided that international and Chinese artists should work together in different spaces to complete this international printmaking exchange together. We have overcome many difficulties to organize this biennale. Besides the artists from various countries and universities that participated in the previous biennales, we expanded the list of guests by inviting new artists to join us.
Exhibition View
The theme of this year's exhibition is “Tomorrow’s Printmaking”, which explores the future of printmaking in the post-pandemic era. The current development of printmaking art has transcended the boundaries of a painting genre, expanding the artistic thinking and establishing a new system of art education. Other genres of art are influenced by it, especially as it combines with digital art, presenting a completely new look. The promotion and popularization of printmaking is also a heated topic of concern to the academic community. Finally, the profound development of traditional printmaking and its integration and expansion with contemporary culture are important issues for international academics and artists to consider.
View of Symposium
This year’s academic symposium was held both online and offline, discussing the mentioned topics. The organizer invited domestic experts to Yunnan to participate in the opening ceremony and symposium offline, while the international experts could participate in the symposium online. The exhibition and symposium aim at providing a new communicating and displaying platform for Chinese and international artists in a special period of time. By gathering printmaking leaders and elites from all over the world, the organizer plans the future development of printmaking.
Group Photo of Honored Guests at the Opening Ceremony
Exhibition View
In such a special year as 2022, the Fourth IAPA Printmaking Biennale hopes to establish a new exhibition mechanism and mode. The crisis has also brought us new opportunities, forcing us into a true Internet era. Through expanding the breadth, diversity and depth of printmaking communication and ushering in a new era of printmaking art, the exhibition and the exchange way have established a milestone significance for the future of international printmaking exchanges.It is reported that the exhibition remains on view till December 2nd, 2022.
It is reported that the exhibition remains on view till December 2nd, 2022.
Edited by CAFA ART INFO
Courtesy of the organizer.
Tomorrow’s Printmaking: The Fourth IAPA Printmaking Biennale
Duration: 2022/11/12-12/02
Venue: The Kunming Museum in Yunnan Province, China.
