The Art Museum of Central Academy of Fine Arts is presenting the future of fine arts and designs in a show titled The Start of a Long Journey - 2013 CAFA Excellent Graduation Works Exhibition.

The 155 groups of exhibits are carefully selected from excellent graduation works of both undergraduates and postgraduates from CAFA's various colleges such as fine arts, architecture and urban design.

"The exhibition quality has far surpassed what the graduates are required to achieve," says CAFA Art Museum director Wang Huangsheng.

Started in 2009, The Start of a Long Journey has grown into a brand project of CAFA that aims at promoting outstanding graduates to domestic and international art world.

"The exhibition and picture album is the first name card the school has prepared for its graduates before their emergence in the society," says CAFA deputy director Xu Bing.

The project has also received overseas recognition, Xu adds. In 2012, the exhibition was even brought to London. And this year's exhibition is expected to be held in the US and West Asia.

In 2010 the exhibition project was promoted nationwide and included eight other major art institutes such as Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

In the past three years, the exhibition has also toured many public art museums and galleries in China. On Nov 1 this year, the fourth exhibition will debut in China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

A corresponding project named "Practice" was also launched this year.

Executed by Beijing Come and Go Art Center, the "Practice" project seeks suitable art-relevant programs such as academic exchange and international artistic residency for graduates and provides financial support for their creation.

The first "Practice" project will focus on the Shuiwan 1979 Art Community in Shenzhen, and invite 19 emerging artists to make artistic contributions to the community.

At the same time, CAFA also launched a tracking project, which will record every outstanding graduate and follow their progress for up to 10 years.

A special group will collect information such as exhibitions, media coverage and market performance about the tracked artists during the 10 years.

A new course will also be offered for undergraduates in CAFA's College of Humanities to introduce the project and teach tracking methodology.

"The tracking project will provide feedback to CAFA's art education and will significantly benefit these young artists and Chinese art world," says Yu Ding, deputy director of the humanities college.

zhangzixuan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/19/2013 page20)