"A bend in the West Lake connects to hundreds of springs, and vast green mountains surround the Buddhist palace." This is a line written by Qiu Yuan, a poet from Hangzhou in the late Song Dynasty and early Yuan Dynasty, in 1287. According to research, in the same year, Italian traveler and folklore connoisseur Marco Polo came to Hangzhou for the first time and said, "Hangzhou is a paradise city, the most beautiful and luxurious paradise city in the world."

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, and coincides with the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo. In July, the Chinese and Italian governments jointly issued the "Action Plan on Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024-2027)". On August 8, 2024,China Academy of Art and Venice Biennale sign three-year memorandum of understanding(MoU), this exhibition is the first collaborative project since then.On November 9, 2024, the exhibition "The Road to Perfection - Hangzhou, Marco Polo's 'City of Paradise'" opened at the China Academy of Art Art Museum, a national key art museum in China, and a press conference was held.

To commemorate Marco Polo, the envoy of cultural exchange between China and Italy,Following in his footsteps, the Venice Biennale in Italy launched the project “The Wind Creates the Sky”.

China and Italy are both civilized countries with a long history. Both sides have a consensus: the history of civilization has not disappeared because of the past, and the energy of civilization history still exists in the present and contributes to the present. With their own historical memories and potential, the two countries refer to each other, learn from each other, serve as each other's context, and develop on their own. At the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between the China Academy of Art and the Venice Biennale in August this year,Gao Shiming, member of the Party Leadership Group and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and former President of the China Academy of Art, talked about"Our common goal is to enable contemporary art to 'drink water from the source and walk with greatness' in the perspective of world civilization history. In the future, the two sides will unite the artistic and cultural forces of China and Asia, promote in-depth cooperation with the Venice Biennale, open up a broader space for cultural exchanges between China and Italy, and let the art of the 21st century release a richer spectrum."

Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale is one of the world’s largest and most important contemporary visual art exhibitions and the oldest international art biennale.Art is the most precious part of civilization. We firmly believe that art can bring people from all over the world together in friendship.The Venice Biennale covers a wide range of fields including art, architecture, film, dance, music and drama. It reflects the current situation of the world through literature and art, drives the innovative development of cities, and is an important platform for communication and cooperation in the global art community.

The exhibition is organized by the Venice Biennale and its Archive of Contemporary Art History to mark the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death.The exhibition is sponsored by the China Academy of Art and the Venice Biennale, and hosted by the China Academy of Art Art Museum and the Venice Biennale Contemporary Art Historical Archives.

Luigi Lonardelli, curator of the exhibition, saidThis exhibition brings together many exquisite works of art. Artists express their artistic ideas and concepts through artistic elements, symbolic meanings and symbols. "The wind creates the sky", we can follow the "wind" to visit and feel the artists' thoughts.

This year marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death.The "Perfect Road" is also a road leading to the unknownThe language of art is universal. Through works of art, we can better understand the world and embrace different cultures with an open attitude. The China Academy of Art has created an important opportunity to bring together artists from different societies and cultures with an open vision. We hope that through the exhibition, we can jointly find the intersection of art and technology, find a new art environment and an art climate, express a creative and innovative concept about art, and inspire the future development direction of art.

"The Path to Perfection" is a way to describe "Tao". Around this theme, the exhibition brings together artists and creative collectives active in the Chinese contemporary art system (in alphabetical order):Cao Shu, Chen Liang, Cheng Ran, Dai Chenlian, Feng Bingyi, Gao Shiqiang + Shanshui Creative Collective, Xu Jiang (exhibiting artist of the 10th Venice International Architecture Biennale), Kang Kaiwen, Liu Wei (exhibiting artist of the 51st and 58th Venice International Art Biennale), Liu Yi, Qiu Zhijie (exhibiting artist of the 53rd and 56th Venice International Art Biennale, curator of the Chinese Pavilion of the 57th Venice International Art Biennale), Shi Bing + Lin Yi, Yang Fudong (exhibiting artist of the 50th and 52nd Venice International Art Biennale), Ye Yufeng, Yi Lian, Ying Xinxun, Yuan Keru and the creative team of the School of Film of the China Academy of Art, the creative team of the School of Animation and Games of the China Academy of Art, and the stage "Amphibious" designed by Istanbul-based artist Cevdet Erek, they pay attention to tradition with an open vision while fully embracing the latest technological developments.

Pietrangilo Buttafuoco, President of the Venice Biennale, Xu Jiang, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Director of the Academic Committee of the China Academy of Art, Antia, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, Qian Xiaofang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress and Deputy Director of the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee, Andrea Del Mercato, Director General of the Venice Biennale, Jin Yibin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Academy of Art, Deborah Rossi, Director of the Venice Biennale Contemporary Art History Archive, Chen Yao, Deputy Director of the Nationalities and Overseas Chinese (Foreign Affairs) Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, Darrenli, Director of the Cultural Department of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai, Gu Jianxin, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, Luigia Lonardelli, exhibition curator, Ge Xuebin, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Trade Promotion Council, and Lv Weigang, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Film and Television and Tourism, attended the opening ceremony and cut the ribbon for the exhibition "The Road to Perfection - Hangzhou, Marco Polo's 'Paradise City'".

The opening ceremony was hosted by Yu Xuhong, Director of the China Academy of Art Museum. Jin Yibin, Antia, Pieterangelo Buttafuoco, Darrenli, Deborah Rossi, Xu Jiang and Luigia Lonardelli delivered speeches at the opening ceremony.

Jin Yibin, Secretary of the Party Committee of China Academy of Art, delivered a speech

Jin Yibin pointed out that "The Perfect Road - Hangzhou, Marco Polo's 'City of Paradise'" is a friendly gathering across mountains and seas, and coexisting in harmony. China and Italy are both ancient civilizations with rich cultural heritage and long historical traditions, and have made foundational contributions to the evolution of human civilization. The ancient Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago closely connected the two countries, promoted the process of mutual learning between civilizations, and reflected the common tolerance and creative temperament in the cultures of the two countries. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy. Artists from the two countries have always respected and recognized each other, and have repeatedly created high-quality works in the field of contemporary art. Many teachers from the China Academy of Art have been invited to participate in the Venice Biennale many times. Today, the Venice Biennale has come to the China Academy of Art, which is a positive practice in response to the cultural cooperation plan between the two countries.

Jin Yibin believes that "The Road to Perfection - Hangzhou, Marco Polo's 'City of Paradise'" is also a cultural dialogue spanning ancient and modern times, and across China and the West. China and Italy, with their magnificent historical civilizations, serve as each other's context and reflection, and with the power of civilization, let history speak to the present, act on the present, and contribute to the present. The deep-rooted friendly relations between the two countries nourish the China Academy of Art and the Venice Biennale in all aspects. In the process of their respective centuries of development, they use art as a "weapon" to question the times and reality, and become an important force in promoting the development of 20th century art history. The works exhibited this time not only reflect the artists' insight into current social phenomena, but also express their yearning for a better vision of the future. We communicate with each other through experiencing the works, understand and respect each other. In the future, the China Academy of Art will face the civilization creation of countries around the world with a more open vision and a broader mind, and conduct in-depth exchanges in various fields such as fine arts, architecture, film, and design to connect the world. With the agility and changeability of "wind", we will pursue the integration of Chinese and Western art and culture and rediscover the world.

Italian Consul General in Shanghai Antia delivered a speech

Antia said that Italy and China have always maintained a good friendship, and the artistic exchanges between the two countries are of great significance to the collision and integration of the two cultures.The first stop of the Venice Biennale outside Italy was held in Hangzhou, China, which has a deep historical connection with Venice. The exhibition brought together 43 works by 18 Chinese artists and artists from the China Academy of Art.Their outstanding works have made positive contributions to the artistic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The China Academy of Art and the Venice Biennale are two important cultural institutions. Both sides have very strong artistic organization and planning capabilities, as well as significant artistic influence and international communication capabilities. For 700 years, the name of Marco Polo has always represented the friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries. I hope that this exhibition commemorating Marco Polo will become a major event in the cultural exchanges between Italy and China.

Pietrangilo Buttafuoco, President of Venice Biennale, delivers a speech

Pietrangilo Buttafuoco said that both Italy and China have a long history and culture and have many similarities. This exhibition jointly opens a new chapter for the Venice Biennale in China. It is a grand event in the art world and witnesses the two-way cultural exchange between the two countries.

Pietrangilo Buttafuoco mentioned that the Venice Biennale embraces all contemporary art, and its understanding and expression of contemporary art make the Biennale always occupy an important position in international contemporary art.Venice Biennale comes to Hangzhou for the first time outside of Italy, Italian and Chinese artists jointly interpret the common elements of the two cultures, not only showcasing the artists’ superb skills, but also promoting the exchange and development of the two countries’ cultures in the form of art, allowing the world to see a real and colorful China.

Darrenli, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai, delivered a speech

Darrenli said that this exhibition is a fruitful achievement, which representsThe ancient and profound friendship between Italy and China is the exchange between two ancient civilizations. This exchange is rooted in the profound and long-standing history and culture of both sides. It also leads to future cooperation and is another continuation of the Marco Polo Road.More than 700 years ago, Marco Polo came to China from Venice. Through his stories, he first showed China's outstanding oriental culture to Europe and let the Western world know about China. Today, we gather in China and Hangzhou, hoping that both sides can face our future together through cultural exchanges, experience exchanges, and resource sharing.

Darrenli pointed out that the China Academy of Art Museum is a world-class art center, and the success of this exhibition also benefited from the support of the strong faculty and academic research of the China Academy of Art. In the future, this power will surely promote the cultural dialogue and exchange between the two countries, rooted in history and facing the future. With each other's profound civilization foundation, both sides will make more positive contributions to jointly deepen the cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries!

Deborah Rossi, Director of the Venice Biennale Contemporary Art Historical Archive, delivered a speech

Deborah Rossi mentioned that the historical documents preserved in the Archives of Contemporary Art History of the Venice Biennale are all the memories of the Biennale. The Archives of Contemporary Art History uses these archives to conduct research, investigation and learning, and plan future projects and plans with cultural institutions. The Venice Biennale is held with the strong support of the Italian Ministry of Culture. In 1998, young artists from China participated in the Venice Biennale for the first time. Since 2005, the Venice Biennale has set up a special "China Pavilion". The dialogue between art and culture will never have boundaries and restrictions. "Today is just the first step of a journey of thousands of miles. I firmly believe that the future will create more perfect cooperation results."

Xu Jiang, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Director of the Academic Committee of the China Academy of Art, and participating artist, delivered a speech

Xu Jiang pointed out that the title "The Perfect Road - Hangzhou, Marco Polo's Paradise City" makes Hangzhou the other, and Marco Polo becomes the gaze of a certain subject. As early as more than 700 years ago, Marco Polo conveyed a magical gaze between the East and the West of the world. "The Travels of Marco Polo" was the first book to show China to the West, and it also caused Westerners to talk about the legend of China for the first time. The significance of this book triggered the opening of new routes in the world and the discovery of new continents, and even brought great changes and clues to the global knowledge vision. The world also gained goodwill and praise for ancient China from Marco Polo's eyes.

Xu Jiang said that this exhibition expresses the professional vision and understanding of Chinese art of curator Luigia Lonardelli. "The wind created the sky", just as Su Shi said in "Preface to the Red Cliff": Only the breeze on the river and the bright moon in the mountains, the ears hear it as sound, the eyes see it as color, inexhaustible, inexhaustible, this is the endless treasure of the Creator! A natural poetry, like the breeze, overflows the entire exhibition, brewing a harmonious posture of emotion and response. The breeze and the bright moon are priceless, and the nearby water and distant mountains are all affectionate. It is hoped that both the China Academy of Art and the Venice Biennale will uphold the principles of mutual learning of civilizations, artistic integration, and creative symbiosis, establish a good exchange relationship, deepen the framework of cooperation content, show the unique charm and value of Eastern and Western art, and jointly expand the new boundaries of contemporary art creation.

Curator Luigia Lonardelli delivering a speech

Yu Xuhong, Director of the China Academy of Art Museum, presided over the opening ceremony

Also attending the opening ceremony were Maria Cristiana Costanzo, Director of the Venice Biennale Visual Arts and Architecture Press Office, Mariagrazia Pontorno, Assistant to the Biennale President, Cheng Ruoke, Deputy Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, Ai San, Commercial Consul of Italy in Shanghai, Roger Bigel, Co-curator of the 12th Kassel Documenta, Jiang Guoxing, General Manager of Zhejiang Cultural Industry Investment Group, Qiu Zhijie, President of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Jiang Yufeng, Full-time Deputy Director of Zhejiang Provincial Academy of Literature and History, Shen Hao, Vice President of China Academy of Art, Fu Qiaoling, Deputy Secretary of China Academy of Art, Li Dujin, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Wenzhou University, Jin Guoqiang, Director of the Third Division of Civil Servants of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province. Sun Beilei, Director of the European Department, Song Jianming, Hu Zhonghua and Wang Zan, former leaders of the China Academy of Art, Situ Li, winner of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and professor of the China Academy of Art, Shi Hui, an exhibitor at the 60th Venice International Art Biennale and professor of the China Academy of Art, Wang Shu, winner of the Pritzker Prize, academician of the French Academy of Architecture, exhibitor at the 10th Venice International Architecture Biennale and dean of the School of Architecture and Art of the China Academy of Art, Lu Wenyu, academician of the French Academy of Architecture and professor of the China Academy of Art, Wang Xiaosong, curator of the Chinese Pavilion at the 60th Venice International Art Biennale and vice dean of the School of Art and Archaeology of Zhejiang University, and all members of the Academic Committee of the China Academy of Art.

The opening ceremony was attended by heads of important art galleries, museums and cultural institutions such as the National Art Museum of China, Beijing Painting Academy, China Silk Museum, Jiangsu Art Museum, Zhejiang Art Museum, China National Library of Editions Hangzhou Branch, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Tianjin Museum, West Lake Museum, participating artists, media representatives, heads of relevant functional departments and teaching units of the China Academy of Art, and representatives of teachers and students.

The exhibition will be open to the public from November 11th and will run until January 10th, 2025.

The road to perfection

Hangzhou, Marco Polo's "City of Paradise"

Curator

Luigia Lonardelli

Organizer

China Academy of Art

Venice Biennale

Organizer

China Academy of Art Art Museum

Venice Biennale Contemporary Art Historical Archive (ASAC)

Special support

Italian Consulate General in Shanghai

Cultural Affairs Department of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai

Part.01

About the Artist

(sorted in alphabetical order)

Cevdet Erek, ÇIN, 2017, Pavilion of Turkey at the 57th Venice Biennale, photograph by RMphotostudio

Part.02

Exhibition Team

Exhibition Committee

Gao Shiming

Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco

President of Venice Biennale

Xu Jiang

Director of Academic Committee of China Academy of Art

Antia

Consul General of Italy in Shanghai

Jin Yibin

Secretary of the Party Committee of China Academy of Art

Darrenli

Director of the Cultural Section of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai

Shen Hao

Vice President of China Academy of Art

Andrea Del Mercato

Director General of Venice Biennale

Yu Xuhong

Director of the Art Museum of China Academy of Art

Deborah Rossi

Director of the Venice Biennale Contemporary Art Historical Archive

Zhuo Min

Deputy Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department, China Academy of Art

Luigia Lonardelli

Curator

Lu Jie

Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thought, China Academy of Art

Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties

Deputy Director of the Art Museum of China Academy of Art

Liu Hao

Deputy Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thought, China Academy of Art

Venice Biennale Team

Maria Christiana Costanzo

Visual Arts and Architecture Press Office

Flavia Fossa Maguti

Events, Projects and Web Editing

Mariagrazia Pontorno

Assistant to the Chairman

Elizabeth Mistry

Chairman's Secretariat

Headline Communication Design Studio, Italy

Visual Design

China Academy of Art Team

Han Liang, Xu Yuan, Wang Jianhong, Zhang Suqi, Fang Zhou, Sun Jie, Hu Haohua, Zhao Yixuan, Cai Kecheng, Xue Jiayin, Liu Yang, Hu Qingying, Zhao Yi, Li Ang, Dou Yajie, Chen Nanxi, Gou Cenwei, Mei Cuo, Zhang Chenlu, Huang Li, Zhu Ling, Chen Weiqing, Zhang Yaowei, Shen Bo, Wang Ze, Chen Mengqi, Peng Pin, Qiu Lili, Zhou Hui, Wang Yihang, Jia Yuxiu, Tang Jingzhi

Volunteer at China Academy of Art

Cai Xinyi, Ding Muyao, Jin Xueying, Yang Jiabao, Zhang Shuyun, Zhang Weichun

Exhibition time

November 11, 2024 - January 10, 2025

Exhibition Location

China Academy of Art Art Museum

Text finishing｜Qiu Lili, Liu Yang, Zhou Hui, Jia Yuxiu, Wang Yihang

Photography｜Shen Bo, Tang Jingzhi, Liu Yongge

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