





On December 18th, the "Art for Life – Exhibition of Artworks by Members of CAFA Branch of the China Democratic League and Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Central Academy of Fine Arts Branch of the China Democratic League" opened at CAFA Art Museum, guided by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the China Democratic League, hosted by the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Chaoyang District Committee of the China Democratic League, and organized by the United Front Work Department of the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Central Academy of Fine Arts Branch of the China Democratic League.
Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was presided over by Cheng Hong, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the China Democratic League. Wu Weishan, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, and Lin Mao, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, attended and delivered speeches.

Wu Weishan stated that the Central Academy of Fine Arts is closely linked to the development of modern Chinese art. Members of the China Democratic League at the Central Academy of Fine Arts have created outstanding works and made remarkable contributions in various historical periods. This exhibition reviews and remembers the older generation of outstanding CDL artist members represented by Wu Zuoren, Liu Kaiqu, Jiang Zhaohe, Li Hua, etc., inspiring CDL artists in the new era to continuously forge ahead. It is hoped that the CDL Branch of the Central Academy of Fine Arts will continue to lead the majority of its members, actively engage in the construction of Chinese-style modernization, empower economic and social development through culture, and jointly contribute more efforts to Beijing's promotion of the construction of a national cultural center and the acceleration of building a culturally strong country.

Lin Mao stated that this exhibition, with the theme "Art for Life", is not only an inheritance and promotion of the artistic propositions of Mr. Wu Zuoren, the first chairman of the Art College Branch of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, but also a vivid review of the 75-year spiritual context of the branch. The branch has always adhered to the tradition of the China Democratic League of "advocating for national affairs and concerning about people's livelihood", stayed committed to the original aspiration and mission of "art for the people", and always resonated with the times. It is hoped that the branch will take this exhibition as a new starting point, guide the majority of league members to integrate their personal artistic ideals into the overall situation of national development, and make new and greater contributions to cultivating new-era artistic talents who are responsible for national rejuvenation and promoting the prosperity and development of Chinese art.
This exhibition brings together masterpieces by 24 participating artists, covering diverse art forms such as painting, sculpture, architecture, video, design, and books, creating an artistic scroll spanning time and space. Among the exhibits, there are classic works by older generation democratic league art masters such as Wu Zuoren, Liu Kaiqu, Li Hua, and Dai Ze, which embody profound exploration of the essence of art; there are also works of dedication by retired league members like Jiang Caiping, Zhai Xinjian, Li Yang, and Xu Ping, continuing the artistic pursuit passed down from generation to generation; there are also innovative practices by middle-aged and young teachers, showing the sense of responsibility of league members in the new era.


Mr. Wang Duowei, Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal Government; Mr. Wu Xiaojie, Secretary of the CPC Chaoyang District Committee of Beijing; Ms. Xu Yang, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Mr. Liu Xuejun, National Committee Member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Deputy Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, and former Director of the China National Traditional Orchestra; Mr. Zhang Zhenjun, Standing Committee Member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Full-time Deputy Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, and First-Class Inspector; Mr. Hei Dekun, Standing Committee Member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Deputy Director (Deputy Director-General) of the Service Center (Service Bureau) of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Zhang Feng, Deputy Secretary-General and Minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, and other leaders, as well as members of the leading 班子 of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, representatives of participating artists, representatives of family members, and representatives of teachers and students, attended the opening ceremony.







Exhibition Works (Partial)
Opening the history of the branch, its profound heritage and glorious journey are truly moving. In the early days of the founding of New China in 1950, the branch was born under the guidance of the Party's united front policy, with Mr. Wu Zuoren serving as its first chairman. At the very beginning of its establishment, many distinguished artists gathered here, including masters of art such as Liu Kaiqu, Jiang Zhahe, Li Hua, Zeng Zhusha, Li Zongjin, Hua Tianyou, Wei Qimei, Dai Ze, and Li Hu; and scholars of theory such as Chang Renxia, Shen Baoji, Cai Yi, Wang Xun, and Wen Jinyang. Mr. Zhang Anzhi, Xiao Shufang, Wei Zuyin, Luo Erchun, Tian Shiguang, and others joined one after another, making the branch a highland of talents with both creative excellence and academic depth, laying a solid foundation for the development of the art cause.
For 75 years, through storms and hardships, the branch has adhered to the traditional spirit of the Democratic League of China – "Working for the country and caring for the people" – and remained committed to the original aspiration of "Art for the people". Under the leadership of the Party, it has written an epic that resonates with the times. In the 1950s, Mr. Liu Kaiqu, Wu Zuoren, Hua Tianyou, Zeng Zhusha, and others participated in the creation of the reliefs on the Monument to the People's Heroes. Mr. Wang Xun and Li Zongjin devoted themselves to the design of the national emblem, using art to forge the spiritual coordinates of the nation. In the 1980s, it took the lead in establishing the Beijing Calligraphy and Painting Art Research Association and organized the "Wen Yiduo Art Exhibition", injecting vitality into the recovery of the art cause. Entering the 21st century, it has delved deep into fields such as aesthetic education, national image design, and rural revitalization, serving national strategies with its professional expertise and vividly fulfilling the oath of "Creating for the people and documenting the times".
"Art for Life" is not only an artistic proposition put forward by Mr. Wu Zuoren, but also the spiritual core inherited by the branch. It emphasizes that art should take root in the soil of the nation, reflect the style of the times, and serve the needs of the people, guiding generations of league members to move forward with certainty.
—— Excerpted from the exhibition foreword
by the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League Central Academy of Fine Arts Branch

Wu Zuoren, Camel, 1960, ink and color on paper, 87×46cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

Li Hua, "Unity is Strength", 1947, monochrome woodblock print, 23×17.4cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

Liu Kaiqu, Bust of Cai Yuanpei, 1986, Plaster, 24×32cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

Wei Qimei, River Snow, 1970s - 1980s, Oil on Canvas, 73×100.5cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

Dai Ze, Furong Town, Xiangxi, Hunan, 1986, watercolor on paper, 39.5×27.5cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

Wen Jinyang, Construction Site of Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, 1954, oil on wood, 41.5×53.5cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

Xiao Shufang, Rainbow, around 2000, ink and color on paper, 68×71cm
Collection of CAFA Art Museum

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Art for Life
– Exhibition of Artworks by Members of CAFA Branch of the China Democratic League
and Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of the CAFA Branch of the China Democratic League
Organizers:
China Democratic League Beijing Municipal Committee
Hosts:
Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts
China Democratic League Chaoyang District Committee of Beijing
Undertakers:
United Front Work Department of the Party Committee of the Central Academy of Fine Arts
Branch of the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League Central Academy of Fine Arts
Co-organizers:
CAFA Art Museum
Retired Personnel Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts
Supporters:
China Democratic League Dongcheng District Committee of Beijing
Central Academy of Fine Arts School Office
Publicity Department of the Party Committee of Central Academy of Fine Arts
Work Department for Party Committee's Security and Stability of Central Academy of Fine Arts
Exhibition Time: December 18, 2025 — December 29, 2025
Exhibition Venue: First Floor, CAFA Art Museum
Editor-in-Chief / He Yisha
Editor / Du Yinzhu
