Core Site of Art Education

For the past ninety years, China Academy of Art [CAA] has consistently led the pioneering journey of art and art education in China with relentless spirit of exploration. As the cradle and the core site of art education in China, CAA has continually pursued its sustained development and vitality, bringing forth the Academy’s manifesto over a time of constant transformations.

The exhibition focuses on three keywords: “China,” “Art” and “Academy.” It traces the history and development of CAA and looks forward to the art and art education in the future. The “China” part, “Pioneering Journey of Chinese Art”, explores the internal value of the Chinese culture and the various ways to present it. The “Art” part, “Core Site of Art Education” displays the presentational forms of China’s vision of art in the globalized contemporary world. The “Academy” part, “Manifesto of Academic Ethos,” enquires into the core responsibility and mission of academic pedagogy in the 21st century.

Since its establishment in 1928 CAA (formerly the National Academy of Art) has navigated through ninety years of turbulence and growth. The exhibition is divided into different segments according to the academy’s current organizational structure. The 15 groups of artworks are the collective efforts by the faculties of 15 of departments or schools. They capture some of the historical moments and major events of CAA, revealing how the academy overcame challenges and seized opportunities for growth. Through the exhibition, viewers can learn the pedagogical and ideological rheology of CAA from the perspective of inheritance, transcendence and continuance—the viewers can even catch a glimpse of the history of art and art education in the whole nation. These exhibits showcase the accomplishments of CAA over the past 90 years in teaching and inheriting, conservation and transformation, by the traditionalists and the pioneering innovators. They reveal the rich mixture of the diverse traditions of CAA.  It is this tradition that gives CAA the power to regenerate itself and to move forward time and time again.  

In addition, a round discussion on art and education titled “Front Lines, How Might We Talk about the Future?” will be held in the National Art Museum of China from March 26 to 27, 2018. At which time scholars, artists, educators and practitioners from around the world will come together to share their own perspectives and insights into the various elements which might enable us to discuss the future. In April 2018, a series of grand celebration activities will be held in the city of Hangzhou, where CAA is located.

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