On January 19, 2026, the opening ceremony of the “Outstanding Works from St. Petersburg Academy of Arts” exhibition was held at the Visual Art Center of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Jointly organized by the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “St. Petersburg Academy of Arts named after Ilya Repin” (abbreviated as St. Petersburg Academy of Arts) and the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, the event marked a significant milestone in China-Russia cultural and educational exchange in the fine arts.

Opening Ceremony

Distinguished attendees included Simon Mikhailovsky, Rector of St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University; Andrei Sklyarenko, Vice Rector of St. Petersburg Academy of Arts; Ilya Zorkin, Head of the Faculty of Painting at St. Petersburg Academy of Arts; Zou Feng, Dean of the College of Art and Design at Beijing University of Technology and Vice Chairman of the Beijing Artists Association; Sun Tao, Director of the Research Center for National Thematic Art Creation at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Honorary Professor at St. Petersburg Academy of Arts; Wu Qiong, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Qin Chuan, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Ma Sai, Professor at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Chief Curator of the exhibition; and senior liberal arts professors Wang Hongjian and Li Xiangqun from Tsinghua University. Faculty and student representatives from both academies, as well as media representatives, were also present. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Zhang Gan, Academic Director of the exhibition and faculty member at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University.

Opening Addresses
In his address, Simon Mikhailovsky expressed profound honor in presenting the educational and creative achievements of St. Petersburg Academy of Arts at Tsinghua University, a globally influential institution. He emphasized that art is not an abstract ideological construct but a vital practice rooted in lived experience and emotional depth. “In today's complex and ever-changing world, art remains a bridge transcending cultural and national boundaries,” he stated.

Ma Sai highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and St. Petersburg Academy of Arts in faculty exchanges, student training, and exhibition partnerships. “This exhibition represents a concentrated presentation of our phased achievements,” he noted, praising the Russian academy's rigorous selection standards for ensuring the exhibition's academic depth and cohesive artistic vision. “The significance of artistic exchange lies not only in displaying works but in fostering mutual understanding, learning, and inspiration between different cultural traditions,” he added.

Chen Hui, Executive Curator of the exhibition and Director of the Sculpture Department at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, emphasized St. Petersburg Academy's commitment to cultivating artists through a scientific and systematic pedagogical framework. “Their emphasis on foundational skills, observational methods, and sustained training offers invaluable insights for contemporary Chinese art education,” said Chen, an alumnus of the Russian academy. “This exhibition not only showcases masterful works but also embodies a stable and enduring artistic philosophy.”

Li Fujun, Secretary of the Party Branch and Deputy Director of the Sculpture Department at the College of Art and Design, Beijing University of Technology, also an alumnus of St. Petersburg Academy, noted the exhibition's role in challenging stereotypes about Russian realism. “Realism is not a static stylistic formula but an artist's ongoing attitude and methodology for engaging with reality and understanding the world,” he explained. “The diverse expressions of artists across generations within the same educational system reflect the vitality of the academy's traditions, evolving within a stable structural framework.”

Qin Chuan characterized the exhibition as a significant achievement in China-Russia cooperation in culture, the arts, and higher education. “It celebrates profound artistic heritage and reflects shared values in art education philosophy and creative practice,” he stated. Qin expressed hope that the exhibition would deepen collaboration in talent cultivation, academic research, and artistic creation, promoting broader and more substantive international cultural exchange.

Following the addresses, Qin Chuan officially declared the exhibition open.

Qin Chuan Declares the Exhibition Open; Simon Mikhailovsky Delivers Address

Ma Sai and Chen Hui Deliver Speeches

Li Fujun Delivers Address; Zhang Gan Presides Over the Ceremony

Group Photo of Distinguished Guests

Guests Viewing the Exhibition

Exhibition Hall

Academic Symposium

Following the opening ceremony, an academic symposium was convened at Room C103 of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, moderated by Professor Zhang Gan. Scholars and experts engaged in discussions on art education and the value and methodology of the realist tradition in contemporary contexts.

Participants reached a consensus that the vitality of academic art lies not in rigid adherence to formal styles but in sustained commitment to fundamental artistic principles and humanistic spirit. “Systematic and rigorous foundational training equips artists with stable observational capabilities, technical proficiency, and aesthetic judgment, qualities that remain indispensable amid rapid technological advancement,” noted attendees.

Discussions on realism emphasized viewing it as an approach to understanding the world and humanity, rather than merely a technical or stylistic label. “Its essence lies in sustained observation of nature, society, and human experience, coupled with artistic discernment cultivated through long-term practice,” participants agreed. They further highlighted that in the age of artificial intelligence and digital technology, the embodied experience, patient observation, and substantial time investment emphasized by academic education retain unique and irreplaceable value in contemporary art education.

Guest Speakers (Top to Bottom, Left to Right): Zhang Gan, Simon Mikhailovsky, Zou Feng, Andrei Sklyarenko, Sun Tao, Ye Nan, Wang Tieniu, Chen Hui, Ilya Zorkin, Ma Wenjia, Feng Chongli, Li Fujun, Wang Qingchun, Li Zhuangzhi, Wang Yinan, Artyom Tikhonov, Ni Shiwei, Luo Xi, Marina Golovneva, Yin Hang

Symposium Venue

Exhibition Overview
The exhibition and symposium avoid framing academic tradition in opposition to contemporary art, instead returning to fundamental questions: How does art interpret the world? How do academies transmit essential artistic principles? In this regard, the pedagogical achievements of St. Petersburg Academy of Arts provide a foundation for sustained dialogue across diverse artistic paths.

Featuring representative works by faculty and students from St. Petersburg Academy of Arts over the past two decades, the exhibition systematically presents its rigorous academic teaching system and realist artistic heritage.

The exhibition will run through February 28, 2026.