

On December 6th, the opening ceremony of the space exploration experimental project"POSITION - Li Jiwei", hosted by the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, was held as scheduled. "POSITION" is not only an experimental art of concepts and behaviors, but also a way for the artist Li Jiwei to engage in dialogue with the museum's spatial environment.



The guests attending the opening ceremony included: Bernd Malold, Counselor of the Embassy of Germany in China, and his husband Claus Malold; Katharina Wernauer, Counselor of the Embassy of Austria in China; Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum; Wang Chuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange; Gao Yang, Deputy Dean of the School of Urban Design; Gao Gao, Deputy Director of the Museum; artist Li Jiwei, as well as artists, researchers, and curators active in the contemporary art field. Yi Yue, Deputy Director of the Research and Planning Department of CAFA Art Museum, served as the host.

Opening ceremony site

Gao Gao, Deputy Director of cafa Art Museum
Gao Gao, Deputy Curator of the CAFA Art Museum, stated in her speech that this project marks the second collaboration between the CAFA Art Museum and artist Li Jiwei. As Hai Jun, curator and Deputy Curator of the Art Museum of CAFA, emphasized in the preface, Li Jiwei’s works this time constitute an "effective intervention" in the museum’s space—they not only create new spatial relationships and artistic fields but also stimulate the "productivity of the entire space" of the museum. The process of audiences wandering through the museum and "encountering" the works by chance is the key to participating in and experiencing this new type of relationship. The distinct colors and spatial treatment of the works will inject fresh vitality into the overall visual atmosphere of the museum and activate the perceptual potential of the venue.

Bettina Mallold, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China, delivered a speech
Bettina Mallold, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China, recalled her first encounter with Li Jiwei in her speech, which gave her a deeper understanding and respect for China’s vibrant artistic field. She emphasized that in the forms, colors and materials of the chairs exhibited this time, she saw the continuity of Li Jiwei’s early works, which confirms his artistic philosophy and his ability to create works that resonate deeply with installation art. "Position" is not only a work of art, but also an interdisciplinary installation that touches on humanity’s basic need for freedom and the right to have a place in the world, prompting audiences to reflect on their own positions in both concrete and abstract senses.

Gao Yang, Vice Dean of the School of City Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts , delivered a speech
Gao Yang, Vice Dean of the School of City Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts , expressed twofold surprises in his speech: first, meeting Mr. Li Jiwei—whom he had long heard of—in person for the first time; second, discovering that Li Jiwei’s installation works have constructed a new relationship between artwork and product in the museum space, building a bridge between life and art through a unique display method. He specifically mentioned that through the ingenious arrangement and color application in different spaces, the works endow every corner with implicit layering and invite audiences to experience such surprises through their own exploration.

Artist Li Jiwei delivered a speech
Artist Li Jiwei expressed his gratitude to the project team of CAFA Art Museum for their efforts throughout the entire process of "Position" from planning to the implementation of details, as well as to all distinguished guests present, including representatives from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in China and the Embassy of Austria in China. Regarding his artistic views, Li Jiwei holds that contemporary art is a life attitude, which is not only about visual forms but also about concepts and ideas; after a work is exhibited, it should leave room for audiences to interpret freely rather than convey a certain absolute answer. Chairs have served as the carrier of his long-term exploration—from production thirty years ago and design twenty years ago to the current expression through painting—continuously reflecting his thinking on forms and media. As for the theme of this project, "Position", he has attempted to find a spatial attribute of "between presence and absence" for art, but also frankly stated that art does not require excessive interpretation, inviting audiences to experience the exhibition on their own.

Jin Jun, Director of CAFA Art Museum, delivered a concluding speech and lit up the opening installation
Jin Jun, Director of the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), delivered a concluding speech and lit up the opening installation on behalf of the museum. He emphasized that this project combines a new form of artwork with the museum space, aiming to let the works find their "new positions", and expressed the expectation that audiences can stimulate more imagination in this environment and discover new positions and relationships.


Exhibition site

Yi Yue, Deputy Director of the Curatorial and Research Department of CAFA Art Museum, served as the host

Group photo of distinguished guests





visiting site
"Position" has created a field for the art museum to re-examine thoughts and emotions, and we expect these wonderful works of art to bring audiences a brand-new exhibition experience.
This exhibition will run until February 2026.
Selected exhibited works

Acrylic , 63 x 87 x 125cm

Acrylic , 63 x 87 x 125cm

Acrylic , 63 x 87 x 125cm

Acrylic , 63 x 87 x 125cm
About the Artist

Li Jiwei
1980-1984: Studied at the Department of Chinese Painting, Central Academy of Fine Arts, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree;
1984-1988: Taught at the Department of Fine Arts, Beijing Film Academy; 1990-1993: Studied in Professor Markus Prachensky’s "Master Class of Abstract Painting" at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria, and was awarded the "Fugger" Gold Medal and a Master of Arts degree; 1994: Joined the Austrian Association of Professional Artists; 1999-2001: Studied Multimedia at the University of the Arts Berlin, Germany; Since 1996: Has lived and worked in Berlin and Beijing. Recent Exhibitions: Group exhibition "Sharks and Humans" at the National Museum of China, Beijing; Group exhibition "Sharks and Humans" at the Parkview Museum Singapore, Singapore; Group exhibition "Sharks and Humans" at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Australia; Solo exhibition "Mozart - Gene" at CAFA Art Museum, Beijing; Group exhibition "Unfettered Vistas: Works by Chinese Artists Based in Germany" at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, West Bund Art Museum in Qingdao, and Changzhou Art Museum; Solo exhibition "Detour" at the Parkview Green Art Gallery, Beijing; etc.

POSITION
Exhibition Dates: December 6, 2025 - February 2026
Exhibition Venue: 1st Floor Exhibition Hall, CAFA Art Museum
Organizer: Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)
Exhibition Planning: Jin Jun, Han Wenchao, Gao Gao
Curator: Hai Jun
Exhibition Execution: Jing Peng, Zhang Ying, Feng Qinan
Media Promotion: He Yisha, Wu Jing, He Yifei, Du Yinzhu, Ding Yi
Production: Sumei
主编 / 何一沙
责编 / 杜隐珠
现场图 / 贺伊飞 张书豪
