Breathtaking View of a Profound Journey

by Yi Mei

To celebrate the 70th anniver- sary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China（PRC）， a fine art exhibition themed “Great Journey， Splendid View” recently opened at the National Art Museum of China. The exhibition features 480 works tracing the magnificent journey the Chinese nation has undertaken over the past seven decades. Since the founding of the PRC in 1949， development of socialism has changed with each passing day. Filled with passion and a strong sense of mission， Chinese artists have stayed abreast of the times to depict the people， the nations landscapes， heroes and the era with unique vision and innovation. Artists are looking for inspiration， creating masterpieces， pursuing dreams and reviving the nation with resolution and energy. New works have been completed one after another， displaying not only cultural self-confidence deeply rooted in the artistsmind， but also the flourishing spirituality of the Chinese people. With passion and skill， they have erected monuments of Chinese art over the past seven decades depicting the countrys landscapes， figures， historical events and realities.

The exhibition consists of a prologue and four chapters. The first chapter， “Fight for Survival： Road of the Peoples Liberation，”reviews the extraordinary process of Chinese peoples pursuit for national survival. With the arrival of modern times， China experienced unprecedented internal and external turbulence. Since its founding in 1921， the Communist Party of China （CPC） has continued striving for national independence and the peoples liberation， achieving national prosperity while considering the peoples happiness its own responsibility. It has led the Chinese people through arduous struggles to seize epic accomplishments. Through the display of classic art， this chapter vividly captures the arduous and great struggles of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC during the period from the May 4th Movement in 1919 to the founding of the PRC in 1949. This period required Chinese artists to speak for the nation and depict national calamities. These works reflect realities that fuel the vitality of the Chinese nation and the indomitable fighting spirit of the Chinese people.

The second chapter is “Strive for Prosperity： Road of State Building，” which demonstrates the nations self-reliance and hard work after the founding of the PRC and the Chinese peoples courage to change the world through glorious achievements made for national development. The founding of the PRC heralded a new era of Chinese history. Artists of new China adhered to the principle of serving the people and socialism as well as the policy of “Let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend，” to passionately portray the times and the people. Art works presented in this chapter mainly demonstrate the flourishing era and brilliant achievements of new China. Chinese artists delved deep into life and paid close attention to realities to depict the proud and happy people of this period and the world-changing construction of new China with realistic techniques. During this era， Chinese fine arts covered unprecedentedly broad themes. Many works with profound philosophical and aesthetical concepts reflect not only the great changes and progress of Chinese society， but also its vigorous spirit and strength.

The third chapter is titled“Stay United： Road of Reform and Opening Up” and highlights the great changes and social progress China experienced after entering a new historical stage of reform and opening up in 1978 as well as the peoples passion in the new era. In December 1978， the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee marked a great turning point in the history of the Party since the founding of the PRC. It heralded a new era of reform， opening up and socialist modernization. The Party and the country embarked on a new journey which has significantly changed China and influenced the world.

Along with the reform and opening up in politics， economics， culture， social life and other realms， Chinas art industry reached a new era. Artists created many classics reflecting the changes of the times. The works are sated with youthful air and vivid vitality as well as noble sentiments and a sense of responsibility. Artists in this period tended to look at real life， reflect social development and express the spirit of the times. These works show not only the brilliant achievements of the great cause of reform and opening up but also the vigor and vitality of an open China.

The fourth chapter is called“Pursue Great Dream： Road of National Rejuvenation，” which is designed to share the oath of the Chinese Communists — “remaining true to our original aspiration， keeping our mission firmly in mind and striving tirelessly” — in leading the people on a new historic journey towards national rejuvenation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress， socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. Great rejuvenation of the nation has been the dream of generations of Chinese people. Artists in the era kept pace with the times and embraced the mission of the times. While listening to wide-ranging voices， they focused on issues of the era and scaled new heights in the art world. With a series of excellent works， this chapter shows the great achievements of development of socialism in the new era， the great changes in social life and the happiness and enterprising spirit of the people.

Most featured works are part of the classic collection of the National Art Museum of China. They were supplemented by outstanding works collected by more than 20 art museums and related institutions across the nation. Meanwhile， more than 130 new realistic works from the “National Thematic Fine Arts Creation” program organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism were displayed together for the first time. The exhibition is large in scale， rich in content， diverse in painting categories， profound in style， advanced in ideology and extraordinary in artistry. It traces not only the achievements of different historical stages since the founding of the PRC but also the innovation of artists who inherited tradition， stayed rooted in life and explored the realm of art with determination. The exhibition is expected to inspire a wave of continuously expanding art creation in the new era and stimulate innovation for the future.