Recently, the exhibition "Layers of Time and Space – Special Exhibition of Graduation Works from the CAFA Art Museum Collection" opened in Zhengzhou, Henan, with Lin Mao, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, in attendance at the opening ceremony.Spanning a decade of graduation works collected by CAFA, the exhibition boasts a diverse selection of nearly 80 pieces across a spectrum of mediums. From the traditional elegance of Chinese painting to the bold statements of video art and from the intricate details of printmaking to the immersive experiences of installation art, this exhibition has something for every art enthusiast. Divided into four thematic sections—Resonance, Symbiosis, Growth, and New Currents—the show showcases the remarkable explorations of a significant group of young artists in cultural inheritance, ecological reflection, personal storytelling, and interdisciplinary innovation.In addition to the main gallery, a special display outside the exhibition space presents works by CAFA’s emerging faculty members, tracing their evolution from students to educators. This intergenerational dialogue adds a rich dimension of “learning through teaching” to the exhibition.
As a tribute to the 2025 CAFA Graduation Season, the exhibition extends the academy’s educational achievements to the public. It serves as a testament to how art education can stimulate new forms of productivity and foster dynamic interaction between universities and urban culture. By envisioning a future shaped by aesthetic education, local revitalisation, and the creative energy of youth, this exhibition inspires us to appreciate the transformative power of art education.
The exhibition is open until August 25th.
The grand opening ceremony was a collaborative effort jointly launched by esteemed figures, including Lin Mao, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Li Ming, Vice Chairman of the Henan Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Vice Chairman of the Henan Artists Association; Sun Han, Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Guancheng Hui District; Dong Jiwu, Director and Party Secretary of the Henan Art Museum; Li Xiaolei, Standing Committee Member and Minister of Publicity of Guancheng Hui District; Gu Hequn, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Jianzhong Group; and Gao Gao, Deputy Director of the CAFA Art Museum. Their presence added a sense of prestige and importance to the event, making everyone feel part of this significant moment in the art world.
Leaders from relevant departments at CAFA, along with representatives from the Guancheng Hui District Committee of Zhengzhou, the Henan Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Henan Art Museum, Henan Artists Association, Henan Photographers Association, Henan Arts and Crafts Association, as well as faculty from peer institutions and members of the arts community, attended the opening ceremony.
Following the ceremony, Zhang Yanmin, Party Secretary of Guancheng Hui District, accompanied President Lin Mao on a visit to the Fuminli Cultural Block.
Exhibition viewing
展览现场
Section One: Resonance
This section weaves together two thematic layers—New Perspectives on History and Modern Construction—to build a platform between tradition and the present. Young artists draw deeply from the cultural heritage, finding inspiration in the elegance of bronze inscriptions, the charm of ink-wash painting, and the philosophical depth of classical texts. Their contemporary interpretations of Dunhuang art and ancient literature reflect a strong sense of cultural confidence and resonance. At the same time, they engage sharply with the spirit of the times, transforming themes like “the grand celebration of nation-building,” “vivid scenes of rural revitalization,” and “the awe of deep-sea exploration” into rich artistic expressions. Through the lens of youthful sincerity and creative insight, they bridge historical depth and contemporary relevance—writing a new chapter in the story of CAFA’s emerging generation.
Liu Hongchao, Star-Making, 2023, Oil on wood, 100 × 135 cm, Collection of CAFA Art Museum
苗菁菁《折叠公园》2022年,硬纸本水墨,180×91.25cm×4(2幅),中央美术学院美术馆藏
李罗《丝路系列之景德镇·多年父子成兄弟》2023年,布面油彩,126.5×193.5cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
孙宇《“大世界”系列之四》2015年,数码彩喷,80×55cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
祈庆龄《记忆系列 · 昂琴那沁》2020年,纸本设色,50×50cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
王海迪《北冥——百圾碎》2020年,水印木刻,90×90cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
夏理佳《摆渡人——彼岸》2023年,石膏、铁、铜、木、麻绳、麻布、树脂、金箔,180×60×230cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
詹佶昂《竹林七贤》2020年,绢本设色,200×240cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
Section Two: Symbiosis
This section unfolds across Cultural Landscapes, Imagined Landscapes, and Natural Forms, reflecting the harmony between humans and nature. Some artists draw from ancient aesthetics—such as Guo Xi’s spatial philosophy, seasonal rhythms, and Tao Yuanming’s utopias—reviving dialogues with nature through works inspired by classics like The Plum Blossom Spirits Manual. Others reimagine nature from a creator’s view, infusing mountains, forests, and stone formations with personal emotion and aesthetic vision, transforming them into poetic inner landscapes. Through a blend of reflection and imagination, they offer vivid interpretations of coexistence—where nature is not just observed but deeply felt.
Wang Chenxu, Emerging Mountains, 2017, Oil on canvas, 60 × 260 cm, Collection of CAFA Art Museum
何佩璇《植物园》综合材料(有色卡纸,丙烯),60×50cm,2019年,中央美术学院美术馆藏
傅旭航《“拾”物——盆栽》2023年,石膏,75×70×5cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
叶娉婷《Ode · Fox》2024年,羊皮、铜版、水彩,130×90cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
周宏博《隐秘的风景》2023年,铜版,100×150cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
郭玉龙《石·林》2022年,木板丙烯,100×100cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
王相洁《201801》2018年,绢本水墨,220×200cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
Section Three: Growth
This section explores the intersection of Poetic Fantasy and Emotional Memory, forming an intimate dialogue between dreams and lived experience.
Artists move fluidly between myth and reality, crafting imaginative worlds from fairy tales, inner monologues, and sci-fi musings. Others delve into personal histories and quiet emotions, using fragmented, nonlinear narratives to evoke the texture and emotional depth of memory.
In these works, growth becomes a gentle thread—woven through fantasy, memory, and introspection—delicate yet resonant.
Zhang Yi, With What Can I Hold You Back, 2021, Tempera on wood, 152 × 224 cm, Collection of CAFA Art Museum
刘启光《旅人之一》2018年,石版画,60×40cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
王启凡《“星图系列”No.1》2020年,木版水印,72×105cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
邹达闻《他们22》2015年,尺寸不一,中央美术学院美术馆藏
孟佳宝《五光十相》2021年,纸本油彩、木框丙烯,尺寸不一,中央美术学院美术馆藏
朱玄玄《PSUCHE》2023年,木版水印,76×56cm×7,中央美术学院美术馆藏
孙玛侬《THE TOOTH FAIRY》2019年,综合材料,210×150cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
Section Four: New Currents
This section unfolds through Material Innovation and Intelligent Innovation, highlighting breakthroughs in physical media and digital interaction. Some artists treat materials as gateways to new ideas—working boldly with meteorites, seaweed, and industrial components to expand the boundaries of art. Others explore cutting-edge themes, such as AI, the metaverse, and biotechnology, presenting works that merge aesthetic vision with technological inquiry. Their practices reimagine the role of materials and reshape artistic paradigms in a world driven by digital revolutions—defining what the next era of art might become.
Liu Jintao, Falling Star Pact, 2024,Meteorite, stainless steel, variable dimensions,Collection of CAFA Art Museum
江芷盈《海藻革命之购物袋》2023年,浒苔、石花菜,尺寸不一,中央美术学院美术馆藏
冉华明《基于基因行为的雕塑》2023年,3D打印铸铜着色,90×60×90cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
杜雪《茧》2016年,综合材料,45×45cm ,中央美术学院美术馆藏
薛文静《拆一根销、解得一件家具》2017年,北美黑胡桃、黄铜、亚克力,172×32×155 cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
陈戈霖《聚 · 散》2023年,纤维,134×194cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
王志浩《冇》2016年,纸、木板,72×72cm,中央美术学院美术馆藏
特邀
中央美术学院教师作品
柳青《G4472·新世界》综合材料,750×225×235cm,2014-2025年,艺术家自藏
卢征远《开合》镜面不锈钢,尺寸可变,2016年,艺术家自藏
陈明强《盆景》旧铁栅栏、不锈钢电焊条、水泥 铁精粉、磁铁矿石、电焊渣,50×70×150cm,2018年,艺术家自藏
刘巍《此在》不锈钢生铁,85×50×85cm×2,2012年,艺术家自藏
杜英奇《我的戈多》树脂、枕木、钢筋、石头,230×140×220cm,2013年,艺术家自藏
王川《炻·迹》天然原石,47×47×67cm、45×46×25cm、50×38×38cm、60×36×42cm,2024年,艺术家自藏
邹达闻《根之角》木、色彩,300×140×140cm ,2024年,艺术家自藏
Exhibition Info
Layers of Time and Space
-– Special Exhibition of Graduation Works from the CAFA Art Museum Collection
Academic Advisor: Central Academy of Fine Arts
Organizers: People’s Government of Guancheng Hui District, Zhengzhou
Publicity Department of CAFA
CAFA Art Museum
Hosted by: Zhengzhou Jianzhong Shangcheng Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Supported by: Henan Yifeng Art Center
Exhibition Period: May 1 – August 25, 2025
Venue: Art Center, Fuminli Cultural Block, Shangdu, Guancheng Hui District, Zhengzhou
Compiled by the Publicity Department
Chief Editor / He Yisha
Executive Editor / Du Yinzhu
Translator / Mia