On December 8th, a splendid art exhibition, the 2024 Global Zodiac Design Competition Invitational Exhibition (Jiachen Year of Dragon), opened with grandeur.
According to legend, the Chinese dragon (or "loong"in Chinese) is a mythical creature that wanders amid the celestial expanse, bearing flames. Legend whispers of ancient Chinese Emperor Huangdi ascending to the heavens riding on a dragon from a place called Dinghu.
Among the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, the dragon stands alone as a mythical creature born from the rich imaginings of ancient Chinese people, blending various animals and natural phenomena. It embodies wisdom, strength, resilience, and majesty. Dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.), prominent Chinese thinker Wang Fu outlined nine resemblances of the dragon: horns resembling those of a deer, head akin to that of a camel, eyes resembling those of a rabbit, neck like that of a snake, belly mirroring a mirage, scales reminiscent of a fish, claws like those of an eagle, paws akin to those of a tiger, and ears resembling those of an ox. The dragon's image encapsulates a spirit of embracing different virtues for the benefit of all, seeking unity while preserving differences, and fostering harmonious coexistence. Symbolizing the Chinese people's respect for nature, the dragon also signifies the fusion and peaceful coexistence of diverse cultures. Chinese Dragon culture has deeply permeated ancient China's religious, philosophical, political, economic, literary, artistic, societal, and folkloric realms, leaving behind a robust legacy. It stands as a testament to China's enduring civilization, embodying unity within diversity.
Adhering to ancient traditions while charting new paths forward, the Global Zodiac Design Competition has continually propelled the creative transformation and innovative expression of Chinese zodiac signs over the past decade. The exhibition showcases all the award-winning works from the Year of the Dragon, and also features zodiac-themed pieces by contemporary artists. Through a contemporary artistic lens, it brings together tradition and fashion, revealing the deep meanings of the Chinese zodiac and the captivating allure of Chinese-zodiac-themed designs.
In this competition, a total of 4,033 design entries from 14 countries across 4 continents were received. During the award ceremony, 72 pieces were unveiled under 15 award categories.
In this year's exhibition, the number of artworks on display reached a historical high, and the variety is also the most diverse ever. Alongside the award-winning pieces, 29 art pieces by 15 invited artists are displayed in the exhibition.
Curatorial Team
Project Curator: Wang Hairu
Academic Curator: Wu Xiaomin
Exhibition Director: Yue Jieqiong
Executive Curators: Yang Yu, Wang Jun, Kang Jianlin
Project Coordinators: Liu Qingshuang, Gong Hanyue, Bai Jie, Yu Yanyue
Sponsors
Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau
Central Academy of Fine Arts
Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality
Organizers
Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center
Silk Road Art Research and Creativity Center, CAFA
Supporting Units
Center for Yuanmingyuan Studies, CAFA
Embassy of the people's Republic of China in the Kingdom of Belgium
Embassy of the people's Republic of China in the United Mexican States
National Arts Center of Mexico
Binche International Carnival and Mask Museum
The Irish Emigration Museum
Beihai Park
Haidian District Culture Promotion Center of Beijing Municipality
Beijing University Of Technology
The exhibition will open to the public in the near future. We are currently inviting Xiaohongshu influencers to visit the exhibition and share their experiences. Specifically, we will arrange guide tours for ten influencers with 1,000+ followers. Please follow the WeChat official account "Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center (BOCEC)" to keep updated on exhibition news!
