They Come from the Entering Class of 1978

The year of 1978 ushered in a new era of Chinese art. It marked the end of the “Cultural Revolution” art and the start of a highly diverse art climate. It was in this year that the Central Academy of Fine Arts began to resume the college entrance examinations that were once interrupted. A group of outstanding teachers returned to their podiums, while undergraduate and graduate students, with the vitality of youth, could finally enter their dream art academy.

After suffering from various changes in the social environment and art form, this group of artists still assiduously sought for their art desires. The theme of the revolution, the image of workers, peasants and soldiers, and the creation of the main melody almost disappeared in the artworks of the entering class of 1978. The heroism popular in the academy during the revolutionary era, and the opportunism universal among artists during the open time, were not related to the entering class of 1978. There is an arrogance, a modesty, and perhaps a resistance to past artistic expression deep down. In that era, exploration became the spiritual backbone of this group of young artists. In the Central Academy of Fine Arts at that time, people had a strong thirst for knowledge. There are a group of predecessors who are willing to pave the way for younger generations. There are also a group of teachers and students who are indifferent to fame and fortune and love art whole-heartedly. Every artist who started from here, with the lust for making up the delayed ten golden years, madly absorbed fresh art knowledge, enveloped the rich and complicated symbols of talent, dream, accomplishment, experience, character, destiny, etc, and became a special group in the history of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

“They Come from the Entering Class of 1978” emphasizes such a dynamic and textured life and artistic presentation. With their vivid visions and memories embedded in the years, entering the collective pride that only the historical moments of 1978 can foster, we could feel the history and reality that such a group of artists breathe with art and life.