Home: From Tradition to Modernity 2003 Shanghai Art Exhibition · Design Art Exhibition

Author: Shanghai Artists Association
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: "The 2003 Shanghai Art Exhibition · Design Art Exhibition" stepped beyond the realm of pure art and expanded into the field of design art, establishing the theme "Home – From Tradition to Modernity," which garnered significant attention and acclaim. The theme itself reflects a cultural attitude, and it can be seen as a valuable attempt in contemporary art, as it signifies the organizers' and creators' concern and awareness of the cultural direction of design art in China. Faced with the assimilation, neglect, and disregard of Chinese living culture and folk art design, the reality of Chinese-identified design art "leaving home," the organizers aimed to explore and exchange this creative endeavor by choosing "home" as a medium. Unlike previous design art exhibitions, this one was distinguished not only by its clear theme but also by the following features: First, it utilized faculty and students from 17 design art universities across the nation as the primary creative force, while also attracting experienced designers from the society to participate; second, it did not remain at the level of design alone but took spatial creation and physical displays as its main forms, offering vividness, liveliness, and visual appeal; third, in addition to theoretical discussions, the exhibition also presented a display of literature on "home." This structure and approach determined the exhibition's emphasis on both exploration and academic rigor. The exhibition showcased 76 works, including 28 integrated design works, 46 single-series design works, and 2 multimedia design works, all selected from over 200 submitted design proposals from across the country. These works reflected their cultural lineage from China's traditional heritage while integrating contemporary aesthetic tastes, home fashion, and notions of creation, proposing ideas for the construction of "home" from various perspectives such as concept, ethics, function, material, and environmental sustainability. Among them, Shandong College of Art and Design had four works selected: "Door · Door God" by Pan Lusheng, Hu Xijia, Wu Jun, Shao Limin, and Wang Ruiqing; "Four Generations Under One Roof · Three-Generation Family · SOHO Housing · Single Elite" by Shao Limin, Hu Xijia, Ding Ning, Li Wenhua, and Li Yude; "Untitled A" by Li Wenhua; and "Home · Household Goods · Home Decor" by Tang Jialu and Li Jiaxuan (sponsored by Zhufeng Craftsmanship Co., Ltd.). The literature section summarized the history of Chinese "home" design, encompassing the "home" of legends, the "home" of philosophy, the "home" of historical sites, the "home" of texts, and the "home" of novels. It was condensed from 600,000 words and 1,500 images, presenting a rich, illustrated, and highly theoretical academic content. The space created by the exhibition was both abundant and innovative, featuring multiple types.