An unveiling ceremony for the "Haipai Artists' House" media platform as well as for a series of creative activities based on the theme of "Spring Comes to Pujiang" was held at the China Media Group Shanghai International Media Port on Wednesday.
"Haipai" is a unique cultural phenomenon that originated in Shanghai. It is based on Wuyue culture – the traditional culture of southern China – and integrated with modern industrial civilization that originated in the West and was imported to Shanghai after the city became a major international trading port.
The "Haipai Artists' House" aims to create a media platform for cultural, intellectual, and artistic exchanges among various art categories, with Haipai calligraphers and painters at its core. It provides a salon-style home for artists that integrates creative projects, exhibitions, lectures, and leisure activities.
The platform also marks an important achievement in the ongoing efforts of China Media Group's Shanghai headquarters to promote the city's cultural and artistic heritage. Following the successful promotion of a group of renowned artists in CMG's series of programs including "Party History in Classic Fine Arts," "Rongbaozhai," and "Meet the Masters," this collaboration with the cultural sector in Shanghai represents another exciting new milestone.
A work of art by Chen Jialing created on-site at the China Media Group Shanghai International Media Port on March 29, 2023. /CMG
At the launching event, senior, middle-aged, and young calligraphers and painters from Shanghai created artworks based on the theme of "Spring Comes to Pujiang." Pujiang is an area in Shanghai's Minhang District.
One of the most widely acclaimed of the new Haipai painters, 86-year-old Chen Jialing, created a piece named after the event itself. According to Chen, the magnolia depicted in his work is a symbol of Shanghai, representing the city's bursting vitality.
A work of calligraphy by Zhou Zhigao, created on-site in Pujiang, Shanghai on March 29, 2023. /CMG
One of the leading lights in the contemporary revival of Chinese calligraphy, 78-year-old Zhou Zhigao created a work with exactly the same name and also composed a poem on site, praising the beauty of spring in Pujiang.
Artists Wang Jiafang, Shi Xiaojie, Zhang Weisheng and Zhang Feng also expressed their views of the city through their respective works.
A painting by Shi Xiaojie. /CMG
A painting by Wang Jiafang. /CMG
Coffee cup art by famous cartoonist Zheng Xinyao, seal engraver Liu Yiwen, and printmaker Shen Xuejiang. /CMG
A working plan and key cooperation projects for the "Haipai Artists' Home" in 2023 were also announced the same day.
The event showcased the joint coffee cup artworks of famous cartoonist Zheng Xinyao, seal engraver Liu Yiwen, and printmaker Shen Xuejiang, who participated in the CMG's "Coffee Together" carnival event, fully demonstrating the rich diversity of Haipai art.