The launching ceremony for the Youth Experimental Project Space series as well as the opening of “SYMPHONY—Sound & Living” were held at CAFA Art Museum on October 25, 2022. Relying on resources from both the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Central Conservatory of Music, the exhibition focuses on the sound ontology and its extensive expression. Combined with the concept of “symphony” in the field of traditional classical music, it shows the process of transforming sound and music into new media through various perception methods as well as using technical means. According to the overall concept of the internal design space and exhibits, the exhibition space is divided into the creative ideas from the symphony performance (including an online virtual curatorial experimental space). The works on display cover experimental avant-garde music, AI interactive experience video, sound art installation, etc., trying to showcase more possibilities based on the traditional concept of “symphony” for exhibitors, and conveying the comprehension and practical application of “music” and “sound” in various industries.

Qiu Zhijie, Vice President of CAFA, An Ping, Dean of the Department of Musicology at the Central Conservatory of Music, Zhang Zikang, Director of the CAFA Art Museum, Wang Chunchen, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum, Fu Yijing, Director of Personnel Department of CAFA and Teachers’ Development Center of CAFA, Yu Fei, Deputy Director of Personnel Department of CAFA and Teachers’ Development Center of CAFA, Qian Yisong, a teacher from the Department of Musicology at the Central Conservatory of Music, as well as honored guests from Beijing Dance Academy, China Conservatory of Music, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts,  the National Symphony Orchestra, National Art Museum of China, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Rongbaozhai Publishing House, Virtual Simulation Experimental Teaching Innovation Alliance as well as other universities and art institutions attended the opening ceremony. It was presided over by Gao Gao, Deputy Director of CAFA Art Museum. 

The first phase of “Youth Experimental Project Space” was launched in early 2022, and it adheres to the shared value of promoting the multi-dimensional exploration by young teachers from CAFA in curation and creation. It was jointly organized by the CAFA Art Museum, the Personnel Department of the Party Committee and the Teachers’ Development Center and the independent space on the second and mezzanine levels of CAFA Art Museum was used as an experimental area for young teachers to curate research exhibitions and conduct exhibition planning. After the solicitation of the proposal and program selection over several months, the first phase of “Youth Experimental Project Space” selected 5 exhibition plans for implementation. “SYMPHONY—Sound & Living” was chosen as the first exhibition presented at CAFA Art Museum.

Qiu Zhijie, Vice President of the CAFA, delivered an introductory speech.

Qiu Zhijie, Vice President of the CAFA and Professor from the School of Experimental Art and Science and Technology Art of CAFA, delivered an introductory speech. He warmly congratulated the launch of the “Youth Experimental Project Space” Series Exhibition, stated that exhibition planning and exhibition communication were important contents and expressions of aesthetic education, and the Project improved the exhibition planning and aesthetic education construction became better combined. This became an important platform for young curators to display and communicate, while encouraging more young teachers to participate in curatorial practice to further improve the quality of education.

Fu Yijing, Director of Personnel Department of CAFA and Teachers’ Development Center of CAFA, announced the 2022 selection of exhibition plans for the “Youth Experimental Project Space.”

Zhang Zikang, Director of CAFA Art Museum, opened the call for the Second Phase of “Youth Experimental Project Space.”

Gao Gao, Deputy Director of CAFA Art Museum, introduced the “Youth Experimental Project Space”, “SYMPHONY—Sound & Living” and important guests.

Group photo of the honored guests at the opening ceremony of the Second Phase of “Youth Experimental Project Space.”

Fu Yijing, Director of Personnel Department of CAFA and Teachers’ Development Center of CAFA, announced the 2022 selection of exhibition plans for the “Youth Experimental Project Space.” After that, Zhang Zikang, Director of CAFA Art Museum, opened the call for the Second Phase of “Youth Experimental Project Space,” and several guests jointly unveiled the opening ceremony of the Second Phase of “Youth Experimental Project Space.”

An Ping, Dean of the Department of Musicology at the Central Conservatory of Music and Director of the World Folk Music Teaching and Research Office, delivered a speech.

In response to the opening of the “SYMPHONY—Sound & Living,” An Ping, Dean of the Department of Musicology at the Central Conservatory of Music and Director of the World Folk Music Teaching and Research Office, expressed warm congratulations, affirmed and thanked curator Kang Li for the course “Curatorial Theory and Practice” she taught students majoring in Music and Art Management at the Central Conservatory of Music. He said that it was the first course on visual art offered by the Central Conservatory of Music, which started “resource sharing” and “practice sharing” between the Central Conservatory of Music and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, which also laid a solid foundation for students’ theoretical and practical innovation in art curation.

Kang Li, Deputy Secretary of the Party General Branch of the School of Art Management and Education at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Deputy Director of the Virtual Teaching and Research Office of Virtual Curatorial of Art Museums and Aesthetic Education Courses, and Curator of the “SYMPHONY—Sound & Living” delivered a speech.

“The project originated from a class I took at the Central Conservatory of Music,” said Kang Li, “where we discussed the significance of curation, the common qualities between various artistic expressions such as sound art, visual art, and dance art, and finally we extended our inspiration beyond the classroom and landed it in the art museum.”

The Group Photo of the Opening Ceremony

With the development of science and technology and the change of concepts, various types of music are being endowed with completely new concepts. Based on the essence and structure of “symphony,” this exhibition extracts the symphony from the conceptual dimension of a single field and re-interprets it, presenting a modern avant-garde experiment with audio-visual effects such as installations, videos, and live performances in the entire exhibition space.

View of the String Quartet Concert

After the opening ceremony, a String Quartet Concert was held to celebrate the 20th National Congress with wonderful performances from the Central Conservatory of Music.

The exhibition expects every participant to find the ultimate beauty brought by the fusion of different art genres, as well as the emotions and colors buried in the depths of each sound. Every participant may find a unique aesthetic meaning of their own in this sound exhibition.

Exhibition View of“SYMPHONY—Sound & Living”Honored guest visited“SYMPHONY—Sound & Living.”

Courtesy the organizers, edited by CAFA ART INFO