On November 15, “Six Languages” International Contemporary Art Exhibition & Forum 2020 opened at Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU). It was hosted by the College of Creative Design and the International Contemporary Art Research Center of SZTU and co-organized by the Pingshan Artists Association of Shenzhen. Prof. Ruan Shuangchen, president of SZTU, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. The attendees also included Ding Yanguo, chairman of Pingshan Artists Association, and many famous calligraphers and painters at home and abroad.

Attendees of the opening ceremony [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

The concept of "Six Languages" is derived from the “Six Principles of Chinese Painting” invented by Xie He, a famous painter in ancient China. Based on the creation of figure painting, it summarizes the social functions of painting and six criteria for evaluating paintings. As the criteria and major aesthetic principles for the appraisal of ancient Chinese artworks, the “Six Languages” has now become one of the most inclusive principles of Chinese art.

“Six Languages” International Contemporary Art Exhibition & Forum 2020 [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

This exhibition selected more than 50 diverse artworks at home and abroad, covering different categories of art, such as traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, calligraphy, film and television, and design. It aims to interpret the artists’ sense of mission and values through the "Six Languages", record the creative trajectory of an era, and demonstrate the inclusiveness and cultural confidence of Shenzhen as an international city of fashion. The exhibition enables the local arts of Shenzhen to take a more confident and ideal step onto international stage and to exchange ideas with the international arts.

Prof. Ruan Shuangchen delivers a welcome speech at the opening ceremony. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Ruan Shuangchen welcomed the artists from afar and stated that this event marks the rise of a new artistic proposition, force and platform in eastern Shenzhen. He expected the experts, scholars and artists present will witness the growth of SZTU and that SZTU will break new ground in the art education among Chinese universities.

Prof. Hu Jingxuan highlights the significance of this exhibition & forum. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Hu Jingxuan, associate professor of College of Creative Design and head of International Contemporary Art Research Center of SZTU, said that artworks need to explore and innovate, and the "Six Languages" stand for inheritance, innovation, integration of Chinese and Western arts, regular expression, resonant sentiments and significance of an artwork. As a feast for eyes and soul, the forum is not only a grand event in the field of contemporary art but also a booster for the cultural development of Shenzhen.

Ding Yanguo, chairman of Pingshan Artists Association, expresses his expectations on this event. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

As the chief planner of this event, Ding Yanguo said that the "Six Languages" in contemporary art endows with new visible memories to Pingshan and promotes Shenzhen to the world in a more ideal and confident way. He expected that such an exhibition could be developed into a coherent exhibition series with brand awareness and the characteristics of Pingshan District, and called for the artists present to join hands in promoting the cultural and innovative development of Pingshan.

Prof. Hu Jingxuan presents a brand-new iconic sculpture named "Concept 6" to SZTU. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Student Huang Yuqi performs contemporary dance. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

After the opening ceremony, a variety of presentations were made by the artists from domestic and overseas universities, enterprises, art galleries and associations, and some teachers and students from College of Creative Design. They shared their views on “Six Languages” with the guests from different perspectives, such as art techniques, art theory and brand culture.

The guests give presentations on “Six Languages” in the forum. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

The exhibition is displaying artworks in different locations at SZTU until November 27, including the ICA Space, Dormitory 17B of North Campus, Longtian Bookshop and Shijing Bookshop.

The International Contemporary Art Exhibition is held on campus. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Here is a glimpse of some artworks exhibited:

Artworks by professors from College of Creative Design of SZTU [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Artwork “Chronicle of a Fall” by Nadav Assor, American artist and associate professor of University of Connecticut [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Drafted by Olivia（赖丽伟）/ International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Edited by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office