Discussion on the Paintings of Revolutionary Subject Matter

Discussion on the Paintings of Revolutionary Subject Matter

Members of the Ruijin Artists Association, installing the exhibition

The scene of Fu Xinmin's sculpture exhibition in the old posse site of Yeping

Site 1 - Ruijin, Jiangxi Province

On June 28th, the Long March's curatorial team boarded a T106 train from Beijing, going down route 9, headed for Ganzhou. The preparation for various projects began immediately after they arrived in Rujin on the 29th, marking the official commencement of the Long March Project. Sculpture works by Zhan Wang, Fu Xinming and others had already arrived at the Yeping Revolutionary Memorial site, waiting to be unpacked. Joining the march from Fujian province, the photographer father and son, Li Tianbin and Li Jincheng, started installing their exhibition. Local organizations, including the Ruijin Municipal Party Committee of Propaganda, the Cultural Associations and Bureaus are all showing enthusiastic support for our project. The four Associations of Artists, Calligraphers, Musicians and Dancers under the Cultural Bureau have each proposed a program for the Long March.

Simultaneously, projects initiated by Qiu Zhenzhong, Shi Yong, Song Dong, Yin Xiuzhen, Wang Bo, Qu Guangci, and Wang Jinsong, will continue evolving throughout the entire Long March project without the actual presence of the artist.

Xiao Xiong, Shao Yinong, Mo Chen, and others will depart soon for their own Long March, traveling a different route from the main contingent.

July 2

15:00. The first event of the Long March project, The Red Earth: Discussion on Revolutionary Paintings was co-organized by the Artists' Association of Ruijin and the Long March curatorial team in the Ruijin Youth Cultural Palace. Prints and oil paintings of historical and revolutionary subject matters created by artists of the Ruijin Artists' Association were exhibited. Juxtaposed with these works were reproductions of Chinese ink paintings portraying the scenery along route of the Long March, which were brought over to Ruijin by the curatorial team. Ten directors from the Artists Association joined the discussion. The chairman of the local Artists' Association gave a detailed introduction about the making of the mural in the Ruijin Hotel, "The Dawn of the Red Capital." His introduction was followed by a fervent discussion among all participants about the relationship between the revolutionary subject and the professional requirements of such a painting itself. During the discussion, every participant recalled important historical documents, such as the Yan'an Talks on Literature and Art by Chairman Mao, and Why I Joined the Communist Parrty by Picasso.

July 3

10:00. Two important programs during the Long March Project in Ruijin, the exhibition of sculptural works by Fu Xinming and Zhan Wang, and the father and son Photography exhibitiion of works by Li Tianbing and Li Jincheng opened at the Yeping Revolutionary Memorial Site. Zhan Wang's stainless steel imitation ornamental rocks were installed on the lawn across from the site where the first Soviet Congress was held, now referred to as "The Cradle of the Republic," drawing great interest from numerous tourists. Eight sculptures and new installation works by Fu Xinming which use tree roots as the primary medium were placed in various spaces along the Yeping Revolutionary Memorial Site, covering both indoor and outdoor space. Photography by Li Tianbing and Li Jincheng was exhibited in the site of the former Central Post Office. Tourists from various places visiting this sacred revolutionary site of Yeping showed deep interest in the unique old-fashioned photography technique employed by Li Tianbing. He was asked repeatedly for his autograph. Afterwards, Li Tianbing held an on-site photo shoot for people, turning the atmosphere of the site into full excitement.

Afternoon. The exhibition of globes by U.S. -based German artist Ingo Gunther took place at the original site of the former Provisional Sino-Soviet Central Government, in a small square in front of the front gate of the Ruijin Shazhouba Auditorium, commonly referred to as The Octagon. Shazhouba Auditorium was designed by Qian Zhuanfei, and its shape takes after the form of the "Eight Corners Hat" of the Red Army. Its main gate, where the influence of Cathedral architecture is apparent, bears a three-dimensional sign of the Sino-Soviet national emblem, embodying world consciousness, held by the founders of the republic in early years. This was also the reason behind the curatorial decision to show Gunther's series of map works here. The exhibition was held using a unique method of temporary exhibition. Eighteen villagers from Xiejia Village, Ruijin, held Gunther's works up with their hands, lining up in a row, presenting the works to the audience, comprised mainly of tourists visiting the revolutionary memorial sites. With a request from the audience, Qiu Zhijie gave a lecture on the concept of Ingo Gunther's works and on the significance of presenting them here at this site.

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