The first-ever Chao Xu Multiplicity Art Festival is taking place in Guangzhou from October 11 to 13, featuring an immersive experience zone showcasing intangible cultural heritage, an exhibition of up-and-coming young artists, and a creative arts market. This festival aims to establish a collaborative platform for young artists and provide a fresh model for the production, study, and development of cultural arts, with a focus on discovering more emerging talents.
Located in Panyu, the University Town of Guangzhou hosts 12 prestigious universities and around 200,000 students and faculty, making it a vital source of innovation in the region. The festival features a “Guangzhou in Intangible Heritage” experience zone and a creative arts market where local intangible cultural heritage masters present and discuss traditions closely tied to everyday life. Attendees can also participate in hands-on workshops to deepen their appreciation for this cultural heritage.
The bustling creative arts market is entirely student-organized, featuring trendy designs alongside handcrafted items that innovate traditional crafts. It showcases the original design talents of the students themselves.
Industry insiders highlight that young artists can engage with practitioners of Southern China’s traditional techniques like Tongcao painting, paper cutting, olive stone carving, and flower pressing. This interaction is expected to spark new creative ideas and enthusiasm. By blending contemporary artistic expressions with traditional practices, the festival aims to invigorate both art forms and audiences alike, anticipating the emergence of refreshing artistic works.
A key highlight of the festival is the exhibition of internet-savvy young artists, showcasing 77 works across 12 categories, all created by students from local universities. This exhibition focuses on the theme of what art will look like in the digital age.
Among the notable pieces, one called “Tenderness” has drawn significant attention. The artist shared, “This festival not only addresses the survival challenges artists face in the internet era but also aims to explore the profound transformation of artistic forms and aesthetic tastes.”
One of the event’s organizers, the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, brings substantial academic resources, creative talent, and research capabilities to the festival. Wu Yangbo, the head of the Art Management Department at the Academy, emphasized, “We hope to enhance students’ ability to translate theoretical knowledge into practical skills through various collaborations, including establishing training bases, hosting art exhibitions, and conducting creative workshops. This endeavor aims to ignite innovative thinking and creative enthusiasm among both faculty and students.”
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