On March 20th, "The Sources of Contemporary Design in China" opened at the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA). The exhibition showcases physical objects, images, videos, and documents to explore the relationship between Chinese design from 1945 to 1959 and China's modern civilization and historical culture. It visually presents the monumental changes in Chinese society from the perspective of visual design.
Upon entering the exhibition hall, the first thing that catches the eye is the woodcut print "Consolidate Unity, Fight to the End" by the renowned printmaker Liu Xian, created in 1938. This work was published in the inaugural issue of the "Xinhua Daily" on January 11th, 1938, depicting the unity and determination of the Chinese nation in the face of Japanese aggression during the war. At the center of the image are the bold characters "Consolidate Unity, Fight to the End," surrounded by airplanes dropping bombs on the ground, and soldiers below preparing to fire their weapons. In the bottom left corner, a figure with raised hands promotes the idea that only through unity can the enemy be defeated. The artistic and design experiences from Yan'an became significant sources of inspiration for the contemporary design in China.
This exhibition revisits the establishment process of the national visual image of New China, centered around the national flag and emblem, through images and documents. Renowned artist Zhou Lingzhao was hailed as the "National Image Designer of New China," and the portrait of Chairman Mao wearing an eight-cornered hat, hung on the Tiananmen Gate Tower during the founding ceremony, was created by him. In September 1949, the Preparatory Committee for the founding ceremony entrusted the task of painting Chairman Mao's portrait on the Tiananmen Gate Tower to the National Beiping Art College. With only over 20 days left until the founding ceremony, young teacher Zhou Lingzhao, accompanied by his newlywed wife Chen Ruoju, climbed up the large scaffolding leaned against the east wall of the Tiananmen Gate Tower with provisions on their backs every day. By the eve of the founding ceremony, the portrait was perfectly completed. The exhibition also features Zhou Lingzhao's ink and color painting "Memories of the Scene of Painting Chairman Mao's Portrait for the Founding Ceremony," vividly recording this historic moment.
Against the backdrop of industrialization, the curtain of contemporary design in China is slowly drawn from national key projects to everyday household items. In the exhibition, visitors can witness exhibits such as design sketches for the Red Flag car. They can also revisit the daily lives of people through physical objects like the Shanghai brand A-581 model watch from the 1950s and the Panda brand 601 model radio. The "People's Fashion" section particularly showcases the innovative designs in floral prints and silk fabrics, reflecting the Chinese people's fervent pursuit and yearning for a better life through the integration of economic, aesthetic, and practical considerations.
The curators of the exhibition, Zhou Bo and Ji Yujie, explained that the design during the first decade after the establishment of New China not only made significant contributions to the industrialization and modernization of the country but also laid the foundation for exploring a nationalized design language and establishing cultural identity in contemporary Chinese design. This period is considered an important chapter in the study of Chinese design history. The exhibition aims to organize and present the achievements of Chinese modern design during this period, hoping to inspire today's designers. The exhibition will be on display until April 21st.
Translator: BAI Jing
Reviewer: ZHANG Bo
