Chongqing - The 8th National Youth Fine Arts Exhibition opened to the public on November 26 at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Art Museum, running through December 20. Free to enter, the exhibition marks the first time this flagship national showcase for young artists has been held in Chongqing, bringing fresh creative energy to the city’s cultural landscape.

On November 26, the 8th National Youth Fine Arts Exhibition opens in Chongqing, with visitors viewing the exhibition. (Photo/Qi Lansen, Visual Chongqing)

Founded in 1957, the National Youth Fine Arts Exhibition has long served as a barometer of China’s artistic evolution, faithfully recording how successive generations of young artists respond to their times. Beyond competition and accolades, it offers a living archive of youth, creativity, and social reflection—one in which the works continue to resonate long after the moment of their creation.

Art in Dialogue With Its Time

This year’s exhibition presents a wide-ranging portrait of contemporary China as seen through young eyes. From works portraying resilience and perseverance, to vivid depictions of women shaping a new era; from scenes of rural revitalization and high-speed rail cutting through the countryside, to reflections on cultural heritage and imaginings of future life, the artworks span themes both intimate and expansive.

Rendered in diverse styles and media, the pieces reveal young artists’ close attention to everyday life and rapid social change. Whether expressing hope, posing questions, or recording quiet moments, the works draw their power from lived experience—an immediacy that explains their strong emotional pull on audiences.

An artwork on display. (Photo/Qi Lansen, Visual Chongqing)

The exhibition has also underscored Chongqing’s growing cultural momentum. Artists from the city achieved their best-ever showing, with 57 works selected and 11 earning direct qualification for the upcoming 15th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, placing Chongqing among the national leaders. The selected works come from both established art academies and comprehensive universities, and span multiple genres, including oil painting, watercolor, and comic art, reflecting an increasingly diverse creative ecosystem.

Hosting the triennial exhibition is expected to further energize the local art scene, bringing new ideas, debate, and visibility, while strengthening Chongqing’s profile as a major hub for fine arts.

A Legacy Rooted in Youth

Chongqing’s connection to the Youth Fine Arts Exhibition runs deeper than this year’s event. More than four decades ago, at the second edition of the exhibition, a large oil painting titled “Father” stood out among more than 500 entries, winning first prize. Its creator, Luo Zhongli, was a third-year student at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute at the time.

Time has passed, but the weathered face in Father—inspired by the years Luo spent living and sketching in the Daba Mountains—remains unforgettable. The work’s enduring impact lies in its deep roots in real life, a reminder that meaningful art grows from sustained engagement with people and society.

On November 26, a view of the exhibition venue at the opening of the 8th National Youth Fine Arts Exhibition in Chongqing. (Photo/Qi Lansen, Visual Chongqing)

This principle continues to resonate. Later award-winning works, such as the sculpture “Flaming Youth,” depicting a young firefighter, also draw strength from close observation of ordinary individuals and the quiet heroism of their lives. Such attentiveness, rather than surface technique alone, is what allows art to stand the test of time.

At the same time, the exhibition has long been a space for debate. Questions about originality, form versus substance, and the balance between tradition and innovation have accompanied youth art shows for decades. Chongqing’s own art history offers responses: artists such as Pang Maokun have blended Western oil painting techniques with Chinese aesthetic sensibilities, elevating everyday subjects with new depth and dignity.

Nurturing the Future of Art

Looking ahead, the exhibition prompts reflection on how to sustain a vibrant cultural future. Young creators bring energy and daring, but they also need opportunity and trust. History shows that when given space, many influential figures in modern Chinese art achieved major breakthroughs early in their careers.

Today, platforms such as Sichuan Fine Arts Institute’s long-running graduation exhibition “Open June,” alongside residency programs and youth biennials across Chongqing, are providing crucial support for emerging artists. Together, they help build a talent pipeline and ensure cultural continuity.

Quality, however, matters as much as quantity. As exhibitions and visual displays proliferate in many cities, there is growing concern that spectacle can overshadow substance. Art should neither retreat into insularity nor lose its direction in chasing the market. As public demand shifts from mere entertainment to deeper spiritual nourishment, cultural development must focus on producing works worthy of their time.

Visitors view “Father,” an oil painting by contemporary artist Luo Zhongli. (Photo/Xiong Ming, Visual Chongqing)

Ultimately, art flourishes when it becomes part of everyday life. Luo Zhongli’s “Father,” now internationally known, remains closely tied to its place of origin: the village in Sichuan that inspired it has since become a cultural landmark, attracting students and visitors and contributing to local revitalization. It is a reminder that when culture is accessible, visible, and participatory, it can quietly shape lives—like air, ever-present yet essential.

In this sense, the National Youth Fine Arts Exhibition is not only a showcase of youthful talent, but also a lens through which to glimpse the future of Chongqing’s cultural development—and of Chinese art more broadly.