12th China National Exhibition of Fine Arts Has Exclusive USA Show at Bonhams in NYC July 9 – 17

NEW YORK - July 10, 2015 - PRLog -- A wide range of contemporary award-winning Chinese fine art offering insights into China’s changing artistic culture with some of the country’s leading artists--from GenX to Millennials--will be featured in the groundbreaking 12th China National Exhibition of Fine Arts (CNEFA), currently on a world tour, with the exhibition’s first and only appearance in the United States taking place at  Bonhams, 580 Madison Avenue in New York City, from July 9 -17, 2015.  It will be on view weekdays from 9:00am – 5:00pm and open to the public for free.

The China National Exhibition of Fine Arts has been at the forefront of the history of fine arts in new China for 65 years with artistic expressions defining the country’s spirit and achievements and illustrating the development and advancement of Chinese society.

“The China National Exhibition of Fine Arts is constantly focusing on ‘Contemporariness’,” says Liu Dawei, exhibition curator and President of China Artists Association (CAA), sponsor of the international tour.  “Our organization is committed to promoting Chinese mainstream art in a globalized context.  Chinese artists are at the forefront -- with their global peers -- of creative movements to retain the traditions of local heritage while embracing new ways to globally interpret history, reality and social responsibility.”

The 65 pieces feature innovative, contemporary and traditional paintings, prints, sculptures, watercolors, mixed media, lacquer and more.  There’s also experimental art by Chinese artists from the China mainland as well as from foreign countries, including Chinese-Americans.  They were part of a competition which included some 24,000 submissions, resulting in 576 works nominated for and/or receiving awards.

The works of the top honorees represented at The 12th China National Exhibition of Fine Art exhibition include:

Gold Prize winner

He Hongzhou --“Scenery on Bridge” -- In this oil painting, the artist captures the powerful, elegant figures of three modern Chinese pioneer artists Lin Fengmian, Wu Dayu and Lin Wenzheng in a moment in time in their youth in the 1920s as confident students in Paris. The painting depicts stylish, debonair young men who were forerunners in advancing Chinese fine arts and promoting exchanges between China and the world.

Silver Prize winner

Li Chengmin -- “The Founding Ceremony: Long Live the People” -- This oil painting is inspired by the 1949 ceremony when Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China amid more than 130,000 people holding red flags and slogans in excitement. The daubs of paint reinforce the atmosphere and portray an epic and magnificent view of the ceremony.

Bronze Prize winner

Jiang Yong’an -- “Fading Figures: Portraits of Chinese ‘Comfort Women’” -- The artist arranges paintings on paper of aging former comfort women. During World War II these women were forced or tricked by Japanese troops into sexual enslavement.  The sufferings and traces of age appear on the women’s faces. The artist uses strokes and ink to portray the wrinkles of these women and their sad and bleak eyes left by destiny.

“This exhibition informs the world-- perhaps for the very first time -- of our contemporary artists’ open vision of self-expression.  Their courage to probe artistic communication with the rest of the world,” says Tao Qin, Vice Secretary General of CAA.  “The diversified art languages of contemporary Chinese artists are reflected on this international tour.  We hope this world tour inspires artistic dialogue and exchange with other artists.”

The 12th China National Exhibition of Fine Arts is organized by the China Artists Association and funded by the China National Arts Fund. It is co-sponsored by the China National Ministry of Culture and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

“As a symbol of our culture, Chinese fine arts bears the historical imprint of the progress and development of the Chinese nation. It records the noble ideal and spiritual pursuit of Chinese culture,” explains Cai Wu, Chairman of the China National Arts Fund, who says the U.S.exhibition “is a great milestone achievement in China-US cultural ties. I believe the quality, rich content and high artistic value of Chinese fine arts illustrated by this exhibition will help foster in-depth exchanges in culture and art in this new era between the two countries.”

About the China National Arts Fund (CNAF)
China National Arts Foundation was founded in 2013 to provide financial support for the creation, promotion and collection of quality art work by Chinese artists, as well as an education for young artists. The foundation receives funding from China's central government and public donations.

About the China Artists Association (CAA)
The China Artists' Association was established in July of 1949. Now it has more than 6,000 members. Its subordinate organs include the Chinese Paintings Committee, Oil Paintings Committee, Print Committee, Fresco Committee, Animation Committee and the Children's Art Committee. It publishes the monthly magazine Fine Arts.