Chongqing - From dynamic urban spaces filled with energy to the intimate warmth of city life, and further to ancient cultural sites that whisper of millennia past… The "First Chongqing Youth Fine Arts Exhibition" opened on September 13 at the Chongqing Contemporary Art Museum. Guided by the Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles and co-organized by the Chongqing Artists Association, Chongqing Youth Artists Association, and the Publicity Department of the CPC Dadukou District Committee, the exhibition showcases 212 pieces spanning Chinese painting, oil painting, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor, and gouache. Through keen observation, creative passion, and innovative visual language, young artists have vividly portrayed the spirit of a new era.

Visitors at the "First Chongqing Youth Fine Arts Exhibition". (Photo/CQNews.Net)

As the city's first large-scale multidisciplinary youth art exhibition, this event aims to provide a professional platform for discovering, nurturing, and promoting emerging artistic talent in Chongqing. It encourages young artists to use their practice as a bridge to engage with contemporary issues, deepen their cultural rootedness, promote socialist core values, and serve the public with high-quality artworks that reflect and celebrate the times. The exhibition also stands as a vibrant prelude to the 8th National Youth Fine Arts Exhibition, soon to be held in Chongqing.

The "First Chongqing Youth Fine Arts Exhibition" opened on September 13 at the Chongqing Contemporary Art Museum. (Photo/CQNews.Net)

Since its call for entries in May 2025, the exhibition has received an enthusiastic response from young artists throughout Chongqing. After a rigorous two-round selection process, 212 works were chosen for display, covering a wide range of media including Chinese painting, oil painting, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor, gouache, mixed media, integrated art forms, design, and digital art. The works demonstrate rich thematic concerns and diverse styles, offering both deep reflections on artistic language and contemporary reinterpretations of local culture. They capture collective narratives of the era as well as intimate glimpses into individual lives.

The "First Chongqing Youth Fine Arts Exhibition" opened on September 13 at the Chongqing Contemporary Art Museum. (Photo/CQNews.Net)

Notable works include Liu Dejia’s Era Imprints Series II, which uses expressive ink techniques to depict working people in urban public spaces; Shang Chao’s Whispering Voices, a surrealistic triptych that assembles metaphorical scenes of everyday life through collage; and Ning Bo’s The Island, which uses figurative narration to convey the extraordinary dedication of Wang Jicai and his wife guarding a remote outpost. Chen Zhihao’s Explanation to the Spectators employs collage and high-contrast monochrome portraits to create a compelling graphical structure. Zhou Yibo’s On-Orbit Space Manipulator Robot draws on aerospace engineering to inform the artistic design of functional space robots, while Liu Xiang and Chen Xingyu’s Stone Light Relics - Digital Interpretation of the North Hill Rock Carvings of Chongqing reinterprets traditional stone carving heritage through digital media.

The "First Chongqing Youth Fine Arts Exhibition" opened on September 13 at the Chongqing Contemporary Art Museum. (Photo/CQNews.Net)

At the opening ceremony, young artist representative Shang Chao shared his reflections on participating in the exhibition. He expressed gratitude and excitement, noting that the recognition inspires him to continue his artistic journey. “Artistic creation is not only a form of personal expression,” he stated, “but also a means to meditate on social culture and the spirit of our times.” He emphasized how he and his peers strive to integrate traditional culture with contemporary context, using nuanced color and composition to portray the resilience and vitality of Chongqing’s people and to tell the city's story in a new light.

At the opening ceremony, young artist representative Shang Chao shared his reflections on participating in the exhibition. (Photo/CQNews.Net)

Li Yong, Chairman of the Chongqing Youth Artists Association, remarked that Chongqing has long been a nurturing ground for young artistic talent. The city’s open and inclusive character and its profound cultural heritage have cultivated generations of technically skilled and creatively bold artists active in modern and contemporary art. This first youth exhibition not only surveys and highlights the achievements of the city’s emerging artists - showcasing their latest works rooted in everyday life and people - but also reinforces Chongqing’s commitment to cultural development and urban vibrancy. It injects fresh momentum into the region's sustainable growth of fine arts.

Li Yong, Chairman of the Chongqing Youth Artists Association, remarked that Chongqing has long been a nurturing ground for young artistic talent. (Photo/CQNews.Net)

The exhibition will remain open until October 8. Admission to the Chongqing Contemporary Art Museum is free to the public.

Visitors at the "First Chongqing Youth Fine Arts Exhibition". (Photo/CQNews.Net)