Journey Long and Long Journeys: Zhiyuan Cong Art Exhibition

06/11/2015 — 06/23/2015

Organized by the Art Committee of National Artist Association of China, Chinese–American Art Faculty Association, William Paterson University, supported by Chinese Painting Institute of Jiangsu Province, and advised by China National Academy of Painting.

On June 11, 2015, sponsored by the Arts Academic Committee of Chinese Artists Association, Chinese-American Art Faculty Association and William Paterson University in New Jersey, organized by Jiangsu Institute of Chinese Painting and in support of the China National Academy of Painting, co-sponsored by China Tongda Wind Power Co., Ltd. and the Chinese Culture and Arts Foundation, “Long Journey, Journey Long: Zhiyuan Cong Art Exhibition” was held at North One Hall in the National Museum of China. Lyusheng Chen, Deputy Director of the National Museum of China, presided over the opening ceremony. Jianqin Feng, former Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Jiangsu Province, former President of Nanjing Art Institute; Li Xu, Vice President of the Chinese Artists Association; Jiangzhou Zhang, Vice President of the Chinese National Academy of Painting; Daryl Joseph Moore, Dean of the College of Arts and Communication at William Paterson University on behalf of President Kathleen Waldron, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.

Jinhua Li, former Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Jianshan Wu, Director of China National Art Museum; Ke Sun, Vice Director and Secretary General of Chinese Painting Academy; Daquan Dai, Associate Director of Printmaking Institute, China National Academy of Painting; Dali Cheng, Vice Director of Chinese Painting Academy; Xiong Cui, Vice President of Nanjing Art Institute; Huangsheng Wang, Director of Art Museum of China Central Academy of Arts; Lauran Razzore, Chair of Arts Department of William Paterson University; and professors from Princeton University, Minnesota State University, the Savannah Institute of Art and Design, Muskingum University, Ohio, USA, Concordia University, Canada, faculty and students of the 2015 Summer Art in China Study Abroad Program, as well as scholars and friends from all over China attended the opening ceremony.

After the opening ceremony, a symposium was held for Zhiyuan Cong’s art exhibition hosted by Mr. Huangsheng Wang, Director of Art Museum, China Central Academy of Fine Arts. Hengsheng Ding, Professor of the Art College of Peking University; Zui Chen, researcher of the China Academy of Art; Prof. Daryl Joseph Moore, and Lauran Razzore; Hui Shang, Chief Editor of China Fine Arts magazine; Gong Zheng, Deputy Director of the China Fine Arts Research Institute; Ping Wang, Editor of China Fine Arts; Mengji Wang, famous Chinese artist; Zuoliang Zheng, Director of Collection Department of National Art Museum of China; Sen Gu, researcher of Chinese Academy of Art; Lizhong Zhao, researcher of Chinese National Academy of Painting; Longting Liu, Editor of People's Fine Arts Publishing House; Yang Yu, Wanzhang Zhu, researcher of National Museum of China; Lyusheng Chen, Deputy Director of National Museum of China, and others. Scholars and art critics highly praised Cong’s works noting that the highlight and most valuable part of Professor Cong's exhibition is the artist's care and performance of modern American life. This is a powerful and promising exhibition, where they can see the possibility of an effective extension of the artist's exploration and thinking. This exhibition is rich and exciting for everyone, and will also arouse the high interest of many researchers and critics in China.

Cong’s exhibition is the first solo exhibition of a professor of William Paterson University in China's highest art gallery—the National Museum of China—and the first solo exhibition of a Chinese-American artist in this museum. Mr. Wei Ding, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, China and other officials visited the exhibition. In the same year, organized by the Municipal Government of Nantong, the National Chinese Painting Association and the Nantong Central Art Museum of China, “Long Journey, Journey Long: Zhiyuan Cong Art Exhibition” was exhibited in Professor Cong's hometown from September 29 to October 26.

The 100 works of Chinese paintings and printmaking created by Professor Cong are divided into four parts: First, tradition and inheritance, mainly artistic works with traditional themes and techniques. Second, nature and soul, mainly art works based on the painter's life experience. Third, collision and integration, mainly the art works created with Chinese painting techniques to express the artist’s feelings in the United States. The last, time travel and sublimation, mainly the author's printmaking works in the United States that express his personal feelings and reflect Chinese history.

Exhibition

Opening Reception

09/29/2015, 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at The Nantong Central Art Museum of China
Exhibition Location: North #1 Exhibition Hall
Open Time: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Museum closed on Monday

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