FOREWORD

As the COVID-19 epidemic swept the world in 2020, 1.4 billion Chinese people united as one to fight the disease. After the outbreak of the epidemic, China's literary and art circles responded quickly by cheering on the fight against the epidemic through literature and art, forming an impassioned cultural force. “Art offers the greatest comfort.” As countries around the world are still actively fighting the epidemic, the China Artists Association (CAA) will organize the most important foreign art exchange activity of the year, Chinese Art's Trip to the World and Overseas Research Scheme Achievement Exhibition, at Yanhuang Art Museum in Beijing.

This exhibition is another large-scale exchange exhibition of Chinese and foreign fine arts held in Beijing by the China Artists Association after the Paint One Another, Know One Another – Sino-Foreign Fine Art Exhibition four years ago. The exhibition is divided into five sections, namely the 10th Anniversary of Chinese Art's Trip to the World Exhibition, the 10th Anniversary of the Middle-aged and Young Chinese Artists and Scholars Overseas Research Scheme Achievement Exhibition, the World in the Eyes of Chinese Artists, Beautiful Countryside in China by Chinese and Foreign Artists, and Hong Kong by Hong Kong Artists. The exhibition displays more than 130 Chinese and foreign works, covering traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, block prints, sculptures, watercolors, mixed media and other genres. Focusing on mainstream current events such as the fight against the pandemic, poverty alleviation, and Hong Kong-related events, the exhibition combines different themes and perspectives, and showcases achievements of foreign exchanges of the China Artists Association in recent years, bringing solace to the audience under the unique circumstances of fighting the epidemic.

“Chinese Art's Trip to the World” is an art exchange project implemented by the China Artists Association under the guidance of the national public diplomacy strategy. Through the exhibition of Chinese artworks in well-known foreign venues, the project focuses on showcasing the creativity of contemporary mainstream Chinese art, telling the Chinese story well, making China's voice heard, promoting international communication ability through art, and driving the Chinese culture to go global. Since its initiation in 2009, “Trip to the World” has held exhibitionsof Chinese art in different categories and sizes in professional venues in nearly 50 major countries and cities on five continents, with a total of more than 2,000 works on display. The exhibitions received widespread attention and enthusiasm from local communities. In recent years, under the framework of “Chinese Art's Trip to the World”, the CAA follows the international trend and established the “Art and Peace” theme for the international tour. Exhibitions were successfully held throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, presenting the current state of Chinese contemporary art to the foreign audience. The exhibitions promoted peace and brought solace to the people under the threat of war and violence, inspired empathy for the shared future of mankind, and was highly praised by the international community.

The “Middle-aged and Young Chinese Artists and Scholars Overseas Research Scheme” is a branding program for talent cultivation and foreign exchange, supported by special funds of the state treasury and implemented by the CAA. It selects outstanding middle-aged and young Chinese artists and scholars through a strict selection process for overseas research every year. The scheme aims at cultivating and reserving young and middle-aged art talents with open minds and well-rounded temperament, creating an internationally recognized academic discourse system and improving the overall quality of Chinese art. Since the project was launched in 2009, it has been successfully implemented for 11 years. More than 100 young and middle-aged artists have been funded to carry out research and exchange programs in nearly 50 countries on five continents, truly covering the development of international fine arts. Academic gaps have been continuously filled, and the outcome and quality of research have improved over the years. Works displayed in this exhibition record their precious experience of overseas study, and represent the staged achievements of building a team of young and middle-aged artists of excellent morality and professional skills with an international vision. There is a bright future ahead for the program.

“The World in the Eyes of Chinese Artists” showcases the magnificence, wonder, tenderness and beauty of the world. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago, there have been increasingly frequent and in-depth cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Chinese artists who are exploring the world are also constantly collecting new creative materials and inspirations, expanding new themes for expression, and integrating into the context of human civilization with a more international attitude. The exhibition showcases international themed artworks of Chinese artists including those who reside overseas. The topics are especially prominent in the customs along the “Belt and Road”, unique characters from five continents, international hot issues and topics, and cultural integration and exchange. Chinese artists describe the harmonious world in their eyes with their own national art language, explore the common home of mankind from a new perspective. The unique perspective can also make foreign audiences feel at home, thus the works can speak to the hearts of the people and promote the spirit of communication. While being understood by the world, it also displays the grand picture and brand-new outlook of Chinese art to the world.

“Beautiful Countryside in China by Chinese and Foreign Artists” is one of the new highlights of the exhibition. Taking advantage of the Beijing International Art Biennale and other exchange opportunities, the CAA has invited foreign artists from around the world to attend sketching activities in China's mainland. In recent years, we have also organized Chinese and foreign artists to visit the impoverished villages in Pinggu and Fangshan Districts in the suburbs of Beijing. The artists not only enjoyed the natural beauty of the areas, but also visited the homes of ordinary farmers for interviews as well as local art industry. Every visitor was impressed by the villagers' sincere love for art. Amid the decisive battle against poverty, culture and art should play a role in inspiring confidence and providing education. The China Artists Association has brought the exchange of fine arts between China and foreign countries to grassroot level. Artists from different countries have been witnessing the development of Chinese villages, depicting the poetic beauty with their brushes, and telling the world the moving stories and concrete achievements of China's efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the rural “poverty alleviation” in their own languages.

“Hong Kong by Hong Kong Artists” is anotherhighlight of the exhibition. Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, under the guidance of the policy of “one country, two systems”, the Hong Kong SAR government has led its citizens in building a prosperous and powerful new Hong Kong. As an important part of the Chinese cultural landscape, the Hong Kong art circle has always advocated loving the country, loving Hong Kong and respecting moral and artistic standards. Hong Kong's art circle has been making important contributions to carrying forward traditional Chinese culture, identifying with the roots of the Chinese culture and promoting the prosperity of the Hong Kong art circle. During the exhibition preparation, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR showed great support by inviting famous artists in Hong Kong. The exhibition shows 20 years of great achievements of the prosperity and stability since the return of Hong Kong from the perspective of those who lived through the era, demonstrates Hong Kong people's love for the motherland and the city, strengthens Hong Kong's art exchanges and cooperation with the mainland and boosts the power and influence of the Chinese culture.

As a Chinese saying goes, “Though miles apart, we are under the same sky.” Based in China and focusing on the modern era, this exhibition also points to the diversity of cultures, presenting the varying stories, visions and inspirations of diverse countries in the world. It also responds to and draws the grand blueprint of a “Community of Shared Future for Mankind”, featuring peaceful development and win-win cooperation. In the face of the pandemic, we need to use the power of art to boost morale, unite the people, and lift spirits. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful tools for mankind to defeat the pandemic and important weapons against all kinds of risks and challenges. I firmly believe that through the ordeal of the pandemic, the common bond among mankind will be strengthened by the “Community of Shared Future for Mankind”, and our shared home will be cleaner and warmer.

Xu Li

Standing Vice-Chairman of China Artists Association

June 2020