Introduction to the exhibition:

2017 is the centennial birthday anniversary of Mr. Zhang Ding, a prominent revolutionary literary artist and art educator, who was the former dean of the Central Academy of Arts and Design (now Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University). Mr. Zhang Ding is a promoter of the traditional Chinese culture in contemporary China, an architect of the revolutionary culture, and a practitioner of the socialist culture, a pioneer in re-energizing the creation and development of contemporary Chinese culture.

To learn from the spirit of Mr. Zhang Ding, Chinese Federation of Literary & Art Circles and Tsinghua University jointly sponsored the "Zhang Ding Centennial Birth Exhibition", which is divided into seven sections, including the historical photos of over 70 years of his artistic life and more than 200 pieces of his works such as comics, New Year pictures, propaganda poster, art and craft, film animation, art design, decorative painting, mural, color ink painting, coke ink landscape painting and calligraphy. The exhibition gives us a whole picture of his outstanding achievements and contributions to Chinese literary art in his lifetime. In occasion of Zhang Ding’s centennial birthday, the exhibition looks back into his dedication to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, showing his innovative spirit and charisma.

Introduction of the artist:

Mr. Zhang Ding (1917-2010) is a prominent revolutionary literary artist and art educator with significant influence in the educational circles of China since the 20th century.

Zhang Ding's life is closely attached to China's revolutionary history and the development of new China's art education, who experiences the development of thought in China’s modern literary art and major events in modern Chinese art.

In the 1930s, Zhang Ding took the brush as a weapon, standing in the forefront of the times as the pioneer of revolutionary literary art. His comics became a "flag" of the national liberation movement, inspiring and calling the rise and liberation of the Chinese nation. He is the "modern" designer and "versatile artist" in the era of Yan'an, whose artistic creation added a flavor of cultural vitality to the revolutionary cause and the tough times. 

After the founding of new China, as the national chief artistic designer, Zhang Ding has completed many important designs of national image. In particular, his design of the CPPCC emblem and participation in the design of the national emblem, not only embodies the wisdom and thought of all walks of life, but also reflects his political consciousness and outstanding artistic talent. He undertook and completed the overall design of China Pavilions at various international fairs held in western countries in the early years of the People's Republic of China and organized related activities, which have been acclaimed internationally. He is a pioneer in the design of new China’s exhibition and was the first to show his traditional Chinese painting in Western countries, and he also met with Picasso, representative figure in Western modern art, cracking the barrier of cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the West, for which has was known as the ambassador of cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the West. 

He was respected as a milestone in the reform of Chinese painting. At the beginning of the founding of new China, there was an intense ideological struggle in the inheritance and development of Chinese traditional art, the relationship between life and creation, conservatism and nihilism, and other issues. He altered the trend with his practice and theory of artistic creation, and saved traditional art from the crisis.

Zhang Ding is the pioneer of fine art education and the founder of art & design education in new China, and also former dean of the Central Academy of Arts and Design. In particular, the art & design education system and educational ideology with Chinese characteristics created and developed by Zhang Ding, not only has its historical impact, but also has significant influence on contemporary art & design education at home and abroad. He has also led the rejuvenation of Chinese mural art. In the early days of reform and opening up, he has led the creation of mural group at Beijing Capital Airport (a national major project), with multiple artistic innovation and national art style, which became the prelude of the liberation in the thought of literary art, and ushered in the spring of Chinese literary art and a new era of vigorous development of culture and art in China. In his later years he created a new way in the field of coke ink art, which is exclusive, outstanding and respectful.

Zhang Ding's artistic thoughts and activities are closely linked with the development of Chinese modern art history and art education. He is an esteemed representative of a generation of artists and prominent art educators in China’s art education and art circles, who is respected as the iconic figure in the contemporary fine art history, the pioneer of revolutionary literary art, the founder of art & design education and the symbol of artistic innovation of China.

Zhang Ding was always approachable, righteous and with a positive attitude, as an artist, in comics, New Year pictures, propaganda posters, practical fine art, animation films, exhibition design, stage art, decorative painting, mural, Chinese painting, calligraphy, art criticism and other fields, or as a leader of art education, He managed to integrate the spirit of Chinese culture and art and the new ideology of art and culture, leading his times to create a new generation of art trends, and having students everywhere, thus admired and loved by people.

Zhang Ding is an outstanding representative of the Chinese education community who adheres to Chinese traditional culture, and explores the system of art education, artistic theory and style with Chinese characteristics. He was the pioneer to integrate ancient and modern art, and bravely explored, innovated, and put into practice. He is a role model in terms of his virtue, talent, social commitment and dedication to the cause of art education of the country. 

Time: October 15 to November 10, 2017

Venue: Tsinghua University Art Museum

Sponsor: China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Tsinghua University

Chief planning: Feng Yuan

Executive planning and writing: Du Dakai, Lu Xinhua

Exhibition design: Su Liqun, Cao Yanan

Organizer:

Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University Art Museum

Academic Support Unit: The National Art Museum of China, The Palace Museum, National Museum of China, Chinese Artists Association, Chinese National Academy of Arts, Central Academy of Fine Arts, China National Academy of Painting, Beijing Fine Art Academy

Support Unit: Tsingshang Group