The 9^th Beijing Biennale Poster-- Sports, Strong Light of Life; Arts, Bright Colors of Life; 

Eulogizing Life with Visual Arts

 

 

In the morning of January 21, 2022, the 9^th Beijing International Art Biennale (the 9^th Beijing Biennale for short), hosted by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), the Beijing Municipal Government and the China Artists Association (CAA, organizer as well) and supported by the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), opened ceremoniously at the National Art Museum of China, with an aim to implementing what President Xi Jinping said at the 11^th National Congress of the Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10^th National Congress of the Chinese Writers Association that literary and art workers will show the world a credible, lovely and respectable image of China. Themed the Light of Life, this exhibition, is an important part of MEET IN BEIJING Olympic Culture Festival and is a fabulous prelude of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. 

 

 

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony Guests: Ms. Tie Ning, CFLAC President; Mr. Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-president of CFLAC, and Secretary of the Secretariat; Mr. Jin Shangyi, Honorary President of the CAA; Mr. Feng Yuan, Honorary President of CAA, and Mr. Zhu Di, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-president of CFLAC, and Secretary of the Secretariat

 

Opening Ceremony Guests: Mr. Ma Fenghui, Secretary of the Sub Party Leadership Group of the CAA, Vice-president Stationed in the Association, and General Secretary of the Association; Mr. Liu Bin, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism; H.E. Mr. Djauhari, the Indonesian Ambassador to China; and H.E. Mr. Wojcjech Zajaczkowski, the Polish Ambassador to China

 

Opening Ceremony Guests: Mr. Zhang Hong, Member of the Party Leadership Group of CFLAC, and Secretary of the Secretariat; Mr. Yan Dongsheng, Secretary of Party Committee of NAMOC; and H.E. Mr. Rafael Dezcallar Mazarredo, the Spanish Ambassador to China

Guests present at the Opening Ceremony were Ms. Tie Ning, president of CFLAC; Mr. Li Yi, secretary of the Party leadership group and vice-president of CFLAC and secretary of the Secretariat; Mr. Zhu Di, member of the Party leadership group and vice-president of CFLAC and secretary of the Secretariat; Mr. Zhang Hong, member of the Party leadership group of CFLAC and secretary of the Secretariat; and heads of the General Office, International Liaison Department, Theoretical Research Department, Human Resources Department, and Online Literature and Art Publicity Center of CFLAC, and of China Art Newspaper and China Literature and Art Foundation. They were joined by Mr. Liu Bin, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism; Mr. Jin Shangyi, honorary president of CAA; Mr. Feng Yuan, honorary president of CAA; Mr. Ma Fenghui, secretary of the sub Party leadership group of CAA, vice-president stationed in the Association, and general secretary of the Association; Ms. Tao Qin, deputy secretary of the sub Party leadership group of CAA; Mr. Yan Dongsheng, secretary of Party Committee of NAMOC; Ms. An Yuanyuan, Deputy Director of NAMOC; and Ms. Liu Yan, deputy secretary of the Beijing Artists Association and cultural director of media and culture group of the Organizing Committee of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Senior curators Mr. Wang Yong and Mr. Ding Ning, as well as artist representatives Ms. Yan Ping, Mr. Wang Guanjun, Mr. Zhang Hua, Mr. Wang Shimin, Mr. Liu Qing, Mr. Wang Xuexian and Mr. Lou Xiaobo, also took part in the Opening Ceremony. Participants also included H.E. Mr. Djauhari, the Indonesian Ambassador to China, and his wife; H.E. Mr. Wojcjech Zajaczkowski, the Polish Ambassador to China, and his wife; H.E. Mr. Rafael Dezcallar Mazarredo, the Spanish Ambassador to China; Mr. Christian Mandl, head of Cultural Affairs of the Austrian Embassy; Mr. Johan Van Hove, Public Diplomacy Counsellor of the Belgian Embassy; Ms. Nadia Scipio del Campo, Public Diplomacy Counsellor of the Canadian Embassy; Mr.Rousse, Counsellor of Cultural and Educational Section of the French Embassy; Ms. Sarah Finn, Head of Culture Section of the Irish Embassy; Ms. Ginevra Oliva, First Counsellor of the Italian Embassy; Mr. Bart Hofstede, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Netherlands; Ms. Tehani Pestalozzi, Counsellor and Head of Communication and Culture of the Swiss Embassy; and cultural and news officials from Belgian, Danish, Greek, Hungarian and Peruvian embassies.

 

The Opening Ceremony was presided over by Ms. Tao Qin and Chinese and has seen speeches delivered by Chinese and international guests. 

 

Mr. Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-president of CFLAC, delivers a speech. 

 

Mr. Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-president of CFLAC, emphasized in his speech that President Xi Jinping points out that educating people with culture can form a stronger spiritual bond, and communication with art is more effective. The Chinese people always have a profound love for the world, Chinese culture has been showing the traits of being open and inclusive since ancient times, and the Chinese nation has been pursuing the realm of “People would appreciate their own virtues and applaud that of others. If they can co-exist, there will be harmony in the world”. At present, the Chinese people have already embarked on a new journey of building a modernized socialist country in an all-round way, and we are marching with long strides on the road of realizing the great rejuvenation of Chinese nation. Contemporary Chinese artists bear the common destiny of mankind in mind standing on the vast land of China. They would like to listen attentively to the rhythmic sound of the footsteps of the people all over the world in their pursuit of a bright life; and expect to share their own artistic achievements with others. They can help the international community to understand the development path of China and the secret of its success in the way of art and to feel the change in the life of the Chinese people and their spiritual world.

We are not alone on the Great Way and the whole world is one family. As a regular major international exhibition project in our country, the Beijing Biennial has been committed to expressing the bright aspiration of mankind in pursuing peaceful development with art since its establishment in 2002 by responding to the call of our government around the issues commonly concerned by the international circle of fine arts. It makes efforts to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the traditional paintings and sculpture in the world. It communicates with the world with art based on close cooperation, fully demonstrating the responsibility taken on by art and artists for the common destiny of mankind. The Beijing Biennial has succeeded in holding 8 exhibitions so far, becoming the largest fine arts platform for “focusing on a community with shared future for mankind and deepening the exchange and mutual learning between civilizations” and playing the role of bridge in promoting the exchanges in art around the world. It has won a higher level of recognition worldwide and made important contributions to the building of a community with shared future for mankind. Currently, the whole world is still facing a severe and complicated situation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, but this exhibition is opened smoothly on the eve of Beijing Olympic Winter Games by overcoming all the difficulties. Around the theme of “The Light of Life”, it has solicited more than 700 works from 117 countries and regions, larger in scale than any previous exhibitions. Depicting and shaping the Olympic spirit and the spirit for fighting the Covid-19 epidemic in a colorful and three-dimensional way, it fully reflects the love of the people of countries in the world for art and their aspiration for beauty, and also the strong power art has in attracting and uniting people.

 

"Even mountains and seas cannot distance people with common aspirations," as an old Chinese saying goes. The western philosopher Aristotle once made a similar remark, “Birds of a Feather Flock Together”. Beautiful things can be appreciated by all; each civilization is the crystallization of beauty, glittering light of mankind’s artistic ideal and wisdom. Because there are a large variety of civilizations, we need to exchange; we learn from each other in exchanging and develop through mutual learning. Here, we sincerely hope that Chinese artists including artists of fine arts would devote themselves to telling China's stories and produce more outstanding works which reflect China's aesthetics, disseminate contemporary values in China and reflect the common values pursued by the whole mankind. So we will make the image of China worthy of trust, love and respect and continue to write a high-quality book of “diplomacy of fine arts”. Meanwhile, we are eager to see more and more Chinese and foreign artists making joint efforts to gather the strength of art to cope with the common challenges to mankind, writing a new chapter for a community with shared future for mankind and creating a brighter future for all of us.

  

Mr. Ma Fenghui, Secretary of the Sub Party Leadership Group of the CAA, Vice-president Stationed in the Association, and General Secretary of the Association, delivers a speech.

 

Mr. Ma Fenghui, Secretary of the Sub Party Leadership Group of the CAA, Vice-president Stationed in the Association, and General Secretary of the Association, said in his speech that it is nearly 20 years since the establishment of the Beijing Biennial which represents China’s ideas about art. Focusing on fine arts, this exhibition has become an international platform for exchanges in culture and art with the largest number of participating countries relying on its distinct theme in line with the trends of our times and reflecting the common values cherished by the whole mankind. As an important carrier for telling China’s story to the world, it keeps promoting its discourse power in the world, being praised as “a bridge between the east and west and a tie connecting the traditions and modern society”.

The 9th Beijing Biennial interprets the Olympic spirit and the idea of the humanistic Olympic Games from the perspective of fine arts through such forms of contemporary art as painting and sculpture, and it will play an important role in creating an exciting atmosphere of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. The exhibition plans to exhibit 707 pieces (groups) of work produced by 573 artists from 117 countries and regions. It is not only an art biennial having the largest number of participating countries in the whole world, but also the largest offline international exhibition during the outbreak of Covid-19.

The exhibition features the theme of "The Light of Life", focusing on the Olympic spirit and the spirit for battling with the Covid-19 pandemic, and aiming to affirm the value of life, especially the dignity, energy and glory of human life. It displays mankind's faith and strength when all of them are united together in a special period of the Covid-19 pandemic while boosting the morale of Beijing Olympic Winter Games. The works from all participating countries at the exhibition come in a great variety of styles and forms featuring pluralistic and inclusive concepts. Among these works, some extol the medical workers saving our lives, some praise the athletes of winter sports who challenge the limits, and still some carry out deep reflection on the shared future of mankind and the ultimate meaning of life. Their artistic characteristics fully reflect their distinctive national culture.

 

Just as what General Secretary Xi Jinping says: The people from different countries have different living conditions and destiny, but all of them show the same tenacity and perseverance in their attempt to change the fate and in their untiring pursuit of a bright life, and it is most probable to strike a sympathetic chord. At present, the Covid-19 pandemic is still looming large across the globe. When some parts of the world are still in lockdown, the 9th Beijing International Art Biennial and the 24th Beijing Olympic Winter Games are held in succession, which is of important historical significance. Beijing Olympic Winter Games will ignite the Olympic Flame signifying peace, unity, friendliness and brightness high in the sky. The Beijing Biennial shows the warmth and energy coming from "The Light of Life" in the form of fine arts. The two events will converge into a ray of hope to disperse the spectre of Covid-19 and to illuminate the road of hope in the future of mankind. They would compose a moving hymn for life together!

 

H.E. Mr. Rafael Dezcallar Mazarredo, the Spanish Ambassador to China, delivers a speech.

 

H.E. Mr. Rafael Dezcallar Mazarredo, the Spanish Ambassador to China, said in his speech that the biennale is a platform where the local audience can experience art, but it is also a place to exchange ideas, to raise questions and issues or simply a space to find joy and inspiration. Spanish artists have participated in other editions of the Beijing Biennale, but in this occasion we are glad to be part of the pavilion untitled: "The Spirit of Europe"--Cultural Richness and Diversify, where 12 European artists have a unique space in this exhibition thanks to the efforts of Spanish curator Lucia Sollinger. I am sure the audience will be able to appreciate new artistic experiences and practices through this selection of artworks. Although a small window to appreciate European cultural diversity, I believe this exhibition will contribute to encourage the creative exchange between national and international art in the Biennale. He also extended best wishes to the success of this Biennale, especially now when the celebrations for the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022 are about to take place. Platforms like this Biennale, which promote the understanding between cultures and help maintain our cultural heritage through artistic exhibitions and interactions, are key to building our future. Shared futures where we can face together challenges as the one posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope that our cultural ties can help us reinforce our relations and widen our mutual understanding. A process to which Spain wishes to make its own contribution.

 

H.E. Mr. Djauhari, the Indonesian Ambassador to China, delivers a speech.

 

H.E. Mr. Djauhari, the Indonesian Ambassador to China said in his speech that art often provided a channel to unify people during the pandemic years and soothe their despair. We probably have seen the images of musicians who held concerts on their balconies, making everyone try to forget the reality of the pandemic for a few minutes.

This event is not only a great platform to celebrate the most beautiful and meaningful artwork from all over the world but also an instrumental platform to showcase humankind's hope for a better future, "a post-pandemic future."

 

As an Indonesian Ambassador, I am very proud of Indonesian painters because, since the Beijing Biennale was initiated in 2002, Indonesian painters have never been absent from sharing their works in this event.

 

Mr. Yan Dongsheng, secretary of Party Committee of NAMOC, delivers a speech on behalf of Mr. Wu Weshan, Director of NAMOC, and NAMOC as a whole.

 

Mr. Yan Dongsheng, secretary of Party Committee of NAMOC, said in his speech that when the opening of Beijing Olympic Winter Games is on the countdown, 2022 the 9th Beijing International Art Biennial, sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Beijing municipal government and China Artists Association, and supported by the National Art Museum of China, is held as scheduled at the National Art Museum of China. It is to cheer for the Olympic athletes and champion the close connection of the destiny of mankind threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Beijing International Art Biennial was established in 2002, and it has already succeeded in holding eight exhibitions. It has already become an exchange platform of fine arts with the largest number of participating countries and an international exhibition which is very popular and influential. In this time, up to 124 countries have contributed to the exhibition unexpectedly against the backdrop of rampant Covid-19 pandemic across the world, a record high in its history.

This Beijing Biennial features the theme of “The Light of Life”, placing the Olympic spirit and the spirit for battling with the Covid-19 pandemic side by side in the artistic creation in an extremely innovative way. It interprets the value of life and extols the theme of peace and love. The works presented at the exhibition are committed to creating the noble soul of mankind, agreeing with the idea of “Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together” put forward by Mr. Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, and being integrated with the determination of the whole society to make joint efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, fine arts have once again become a bridge between defeating the Covid-19 pandemic and Olympic spirit, showing the background color of building a community with shared future for mankind.

The people-to-people exchange in our world lies in the exchange of feelings. The biennial featuring the theme of “The Light of Life” presents the works created by the artists from nearly 120 countries to us, and they have kept the severe cold off us with the warmth and profound connotations. A good exhibition amounts to effective dissemination through language. Artistic creation is an important carrier for cultural dissemination. The Beijing Biennial serves as a channel to interpret and promote China’s classic works and representative artists and their works to the international community. We are telling China’s story and presenting a vivid and three-dimensional image of China through the exhibition. The works equal “a face, a heart and a soul". The face means the cultural characteristics of a nation and a country; the heart means the way to treat each other with honesty, sincerity and benevolence; and the soul means we should treasure and safeguard world peace together.

A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near. The Beijing International Art Biennial is undoubtedly a major event that will go down in history. It is also an important medium for the mutual learning between civilizations across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic! At this moment, we watch the exhibition on the Internet or on the spot to witness such a grand occasion together.

 

The bright aspiration for art makes us to know each other; the common pursuit of world peace and development facilitates our integration.

 

Ms. Tao Qin, deputy secretary of the sub Party leadership group of CAA, presides over the opening ceremony.

 

Filling the Gap of Major Offline International Exhibitions

 

Participating Artists from all over the World at the 8^th Beijing Biennale

 

Artworks Displayed through Digital Screens

 

Two Rendezvous between Beijing Biennale and Olympic Games

The 9^th Beijing Biennale focuses on Olympic Spirits and perseverance in the fight against Covid-19.

 

The Beijing Biennale has always seen artworks relevant to its themes.

 

 

[China] Li Hongjun Light of Life

2021 / traditional Chinese painting / 333cm × 788cm

 

[China] Wang Xuexian, Yan Ya’ya, Wang Xueru  Dream for a Greater Sporting Nation

 

2021 / oil on canvas / 260cm × 800cm

 

[China] Zhang Liang  Heading towards Future—Welcome to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games

2021 / traditional Chinese painting / 300cm × 736cm     

 

Special Exhibitions are “Extra Shows” of Beijing Biennale

QR Code of Online Exhibition

 

 Beijing Biennale Meets Chinese Spring Festival, Providing Visitors with a Visual Feast

The 9^th Beijing Biennale coincides with 2022 Winter Olympics and the Spring Festival. With various artistic forms, customs of Spring Festival and traditional culture, the Beijing Biennale provides a platform for exchanges and mutual learning of different cultures and will certainly become one of the most popular places to visit.

 

A Group Photo of Mr. Ma Fenghui, Secretary of the Sub Party Leadership Group of the CAA, Vice-president Stationed in the Association, and General Secretary of the Association, Ms. Tao Qin, Deputy Secretary of the sub Party Leadership Group of CAA, and Other Guests Present at the Opening Ceremony

 

Ms. Tie Ning, CFLAC President, appreciates artworks with the company of Ms. Tao Qin, Deputy Secretary of the sub Party Leadership Group of CAA, and Ms. An Yuanyuan, Deputy Director of NAMOC.

Mr. Li Yi, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-president of CFLAC, and Secretary of the Secretariat, appreciates artworks with the company of Mr. Ma Fenghui, Secretary of the Sub Party Leadership Group of the CAA, Vice-president Stationed in the Association, and General Secretary of the Association, and Ms. Tao Qin, Deputy Secretary of the sub Party Leadership Group of CAA.

 

Mr. Jin Shangyi, honorary president of CAA, appreciates artworks and is interviewed.

 

Mr. Feng Yuan, Honorary President of CAA, appreciates artworks.

 

Mr. Zhu Di, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-president of CFLAC, and Secretary of the Secretariat, appreciates artworks.

 

Mr. Zhang Hong, Member of the Party Leadership Group of CFLAC, and Secretary of the Secretariat, appreciates artworks.

 

Symposium is an indispensable part of each Beijing Biennale

 

Symposium

The total number of collections by the Organizing Committee will exceed 800.

 

Photos by Liang Qin  

Some photos are from Ran Maojin and Gao Sen

Project Funded by Beijing Culture and Arts Fund