The exhibition tour of “Pioneering: Chinese Artists Abroad in France and Chinese Modern Art (1911-1949)”, hosted by the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), CAFA Art Museum, Long Museum, and Shijiazhuang Art Museum, opened grandly at Shijiazhuang Art Museum at 3pm, October 27, 2019. It features 123 works by more than 40 artists, including paintings, sculptures and research materials, showing that at the historical node of the transformation of Chinese art in the early 20th century, the Chinese artists studying abroad in France chose to develop Chinese art from tradition to modernity. They thus became the forerunners and practitioners of the cultural appeals for modernity of Chinese art of the 20th century and founders and pioneers of the shifting of Chinese art towards modernity.
The opening ceremony
Among the guests who attended the opening ceremony are : Zhang Zikang, Director of the CAFA Art Museum; Wang Chunchen, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum; Du Yicai, Deputy Director of the Treasury Operations Department at CAFA; famous artists Li Mingjiu, Chen Chengqi, Li Weishi; Zhang Guojun, Vice Presidents of the Hebei Artists Association Li Yanpeng, Han Feng, Gao Junfeng and Yan Jinglong; Wang Fuming, Director of the School of Fine Arts and Design at Hebei Normal University; Wang Liming, Deputy Director of Hebei Provincial Painting Academy; Nie Shufa, Deputy Director of the School of Art, Hebei University of Economics and Business; Li Xueshan, Deputy Director of Shijiazhuang Academy of Fine Arts; Wang Wenling, Vice President of Hebei Artists Association and Director of Shijiazhuang Art Museum; Cao Fengxiang, Secretary of Party Committee and Deputy Director of Shijiazhuang Art Museum; Duan Zhaolin, President of the Shijiazhuang Artists Association. Wang Chunchen, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum, hosted the opening ceremony. Some CAFA alumni in Hebei and many artists also attended the ceremony.
Zhang Zikang, Director of the CAFA Art Museum, gave a speech
Zhang Zikang, Director of the CAFA Art Museum, said in his speech that the exhibition was successfully held in the CAFA Art Museum after more than a year of preparation, and was widely recognized by the society. It showed the academic strength of the CAFA. The Shijiazhuang Art Museum and the CAFA Art Museum have maintained a good academic relationship. This 2019 exhibition was another large academic exhibition held at Shijiazhuang Art Museum, after the 2017 “Object/Realization: A Case Study of Ye Qianyu Part II” exhibition and the 2018 “Xu Beihong and His Time” exhibition. The artists who studied abroad in France in the early 20th century who are presented in this exhibition, received Western academic education of classicism, realism，naturalism, and brought back various Western modernist schools, adding new art categories, art concepts and new lifestyles associated with them to the 20th century Chinese fine arts, which were different from the traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy system. At the same time, most of them returned to their motherland after they graduated, and many chose art education as their life-long career. Till now, their techniques, concepts and theories have deeply influenced Chinese modern art education. Today, we appreciate these works not only to pay homage to them, but also to provide a perspective on how the current modernization of Chinese art develops and innovates in a global horizon. Most of the previous exhibitions on this rich history were presented as case studies. It is rare in recent years that the history is presented as such a large-scale and neatly organized exhibition. The richness and versatility of the exhibition have been well displayed by the works presented, and it is very instructive for the cultural identity and artistic integration issues that the contemporary art is facing.
Wang Chunchen, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum, gave a speech
Wang Chunchen, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum, mentioned in his speech that in the history of modern Chinese art, there were still many important fine art works that have not been visible in public. And the improvement of collection mechanism of Chinese public art institutions has only begun in recent years. With the support of more than 40 public and private art institutions and private collectors in China, this exhibition will enable the public to re-understand and recognize the outstanding contributions of the art pioneers of modern Chinese art by directly seeing their original works. The tour exhibition is successfully held at the Shijiazhuang Fine Art Museum. We believe that we can have more opportunities for academic exchanges and cooperations with Shijiazhuang Fine Art Museum, and enhance the radiation and promotion of the art industry in Hebei Province through the benefits of this convenient location.
Curator Hong Mei
Curator of the exhibition, Hong Mei, was unable to attend the opening ceremony because of the planning work of Liu Shiming’s sculpture art exhibition in New York. She mentioned in the curator’s message that the “Chinese Artists Abroad in France” exhibition tour, which exhibits across the country as the 2018 annual communication and promotion project of National Art Fund, presents both the pioneers of western academic classism, realism and naturalism, as well as those who explored the different schools of western modernism. Both of these groups promoted the formation and development of art scene in China in 20th century.
Artist Li Mingjiu
Famous artist Li Mingjiu said that by reviewing the experience of the pioneers studied abroad in France and the development of Chinese art, we have the chance to appreciate the significance of the artists studied abroad in France in the development of modern Chinese art. Today, the commemoration of the pioneers is also a hope for making greater contributions to the future of the art cause. He appreciated CAFA for introducing the great academic exhibition to the Shijiazhuang Art Museum. Such academic exchange and cooperation will play an important role in promoting the development of art industry in Shijiazhuang and Hebei Province.
Wang Wenling, Vice President of the Hebei Artists Association and Director of Shijiazhuang Art Museum, gave her speech
In the end, Wang Wenling, Vice President of the Hebei Artists Association and Director of Shijiazhuang Art Museum, expressed her gratitude to CAFA for the trust and support to Shijiazhuang Art Museum. Through this cooperation, the public has the opportunity to appreciate the precious artistic fruits of the pioneers who studied abroad in France. It greatly enriched the spiritual and cultural life of residents in Shijiazhuang City. She sincerely wished that the friendship between CAFA and Shijiazhuang Art Museum will last long.
*The exhibition will last till December 3rd, 2019.
Chinese text edited by He Yifei and Cui Ranran
Translated by Liu Yanchao
丨Exhibited Work丨
Zeng Yilu, Qingjinghuacheng Tower in Xihuang Temple, 54.5x35.5cm
Chang Shuhong, Nude Portrait of Seated Woman, oil on canvas, 140x92cm, 1940
Huang Xianzhi, Cherries on White Floor, 61X46.5cm
Han Leran, Carpet Market, 200X150cm
Hu Shanyu, Canna, 65x54.3cm
Li Chaoshi, Four Friends of New Year, powder on paper, 46x33cm, 1962
Liu Haisu, Basilique du Sacré Coeur, oil on canvas, 73x60cm, 1931
Lv Sibai, Cape, 82X62cm
Wu Dayu, Untitled-19, oil on canvas, 54x39cm, 1980s
Lv Xiaguang, Temple Hall, 38x30.5cm
Situ Qiao, Lassoing Horses, oil on canvas, 97.5x222cm, 1955
Wu Zuoren, Worshipping the Blue Sea, 61x80cm
Wu Zuoren, Practice Work on Human Body, 29x49.5cm
Xu Beihong, Family Portrait of Yang Zhongzi, 59.5x79.5cm, 1928
Zhou Bichu, The Small Three Gorges, 60x79cm
Zhao Wuji, 1.12.64, oil on canvas, 130x89cm, 1964
Wang Ziyun, Morning in Town, 59.5x72cm
丨About the Exhibition丨
Exhibition Details
Time: 2019/10/27 - 2019/12/3
Place: Gallery 4 & 5, Shijiazhuang Art Museum
Chief Organizer：Central Academy of Fine Arts
Organizers: CAFA Art Museum, Long Museum, Shijiazhuang Art Museum
Chief Planner: Fan Di'an
Art Director: Su Xinping, Zhang Zikang, Wang Wenling
Exhibition Director: Wang Chunchen, Gao Gao, Cao Fengxiang
Curator: Hong Mei
Co-curators: Dong Song, Liu Libin, Jiang Mingyang
