Chongqing - On December 6, a documentary exhibition, "Over Thousands of Mountains," marking the 70th Anniversary of the Sculpture Department of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SCFAI), opened at the Art Museum of SCFAI.

On December 6, a documentary exhibition, "Over Thousands of Mountains," marking the 70th Anniversary of the Sculpture Department of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (SCFAI), opened at the Art Museum of SCFAI. (Photo/Deng Yan)

The exhibition, organized as a timeline of significant events, connects the dots over the 70-year journey since establishing the Sculpture Department of SCFAI in 1953. The showcase is divided into an introduction and six sections featuring precious documents, historical materials, artifacts, books, manuscripts, sculptures, receipts, letters, teaching plans, and more.

The sculpture work displayed at the documentary exhibition "Over Thousands of Mountains."(Photo/Deng Yan)

The introduction of the exhibition, presented in the form of an art map, traces the establishment of the sculpture discipline in the early 20th century and showcases the history of a group of sculptors gathering in Chongqing for artistic creation during the war. 

The first part focuses on establishing modern sculpture at SCFAI (1953-1964), reviewing the initial stages of the Sculpture Department, and showcasing the process of forming teaching and creative systems. It exhibits many physical items, including books and catalogs purchased in the early 20th century from Japan and Europe. Additionally, it highlights the field investigations conducted by sculpture faculty and students at the Dazu Rock Carvings. 

The second part, "Southwest Scene and Artistic Experience (1965-1976)," centers around creating the Rent Collection Courtyard, a crucial historical event. It showcases numerous valuable original manuscripts, documents, small sculptures, photographs, media reports, and academic discussions. The section also covers the circumstances surrounding the Chongqing Workers' Sculpture Learning Class initiated in 1972, a decade-long effort contributing significantly to developing artistic talent for sculpture in Chongqing.

The documents displayed at the documentary exhibition "Over Thousands of Mountains."(Photo/Deng Yan)

In the third part, "Cultivating and Expressing on Solid Ground (1977-1991)," the exhibition highlights the first enrollment after resuming the college entrance exam. It provides a comprehensive view of the historical scene of resuming teaching, featuring precious original documents such as entrance exam papers, exam admission tickets, student assignments, teaching outlines, plans, course materials, and records of external exchanges. This section presents a snapshot of the artistic creations during this period.

The fourth part, "Artistic Exploration with Aesthetic Consciousness (1992-2001)," focuses on the aesthetic awareness of the SCFAI sculpture faculty and their distinctive creative styles during this period.

The sculpture work displayed at the documentary exhibition "Over Thousands of Mountains."(Photo/Deng Yan)

The fifth part, "SCFAI Sculpture on a Global Scale (2002-2011)," revolves around establishing the landscape sculpture major in 2002. It displays relevant documents, including teaching outlines, lesson plans, curriculum reforms, and talent development. 

In the sixth part, "Interdisciplinary Arts and Community Engagement (2012-2023)," the exhibition centers on the "2+3" studio system reform in 2016. It showcases a multitude of teaching reform initiatives, talent development, and artistic creations from four studios: Representational Sculpture, Public Sculpture, Cross-Media Sculpture, and Object Sculpture. 

The section systematically presents achievements in research, teaching, and artistic endeavors, including the "Tomorrow Sculpture Exhibition" held annually since 2013, national art exhibition awards, numerous publications, papers, and national-level projects. Particularly noteworthy is the exploration of cutting-edge interdisciplinary and cross-media technological art in sculpture and participatory art serving urban and rural development.

The books displayed at the documentary exhibition "Over Thousands of Mountains."(Photo/Deng Yan)

Curator Li Zhu introduced, "The academic tradition of sculpture at SCFAI has roots in early 20th-century European art studies and the left-wing intellectuals of the Yan'an period. It emerged in the 1950s-60s, flourished in the 1980s and has continued to evolve in contemporary art. "

"Tracing, reviewing, summarizing, and reflecting on this rich academic tradition generated through historical continuity and accumulated events holds significant meaning and value. The unique sculptural community created by regional and local factors at SCFAI should undergo a re-narration of historical positioning and cultural forms in today's new era. This is the essence of the exhibition encapsulated in the phrase 'Over Thousands of Mountains,'" added Li.

Jiao Xingtao, Vice-President of SCFAI, said, "The evolution of sculpture is inevitable due to societal iterations, changing perspectives, and technological advancements. The faculty and students of SCFAI's Sculpture Department consistently respond to the diverse and rich changes in contemporary sculpture with their sharp thinking and expanding creative teaching practices. They also keep an eye on the future of Chinese sculpture education."