In a period of nearly five months earlier this year, members of the teaching faculty of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, in Beijing, visited people who have been recognized as "role models" and "master craftsman" in different trades in Shanghai, and portrayed them in various forms of art.
Now, these paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and digital works, some 200 pieces depicting 75 figures, are on show at Shanghai Workers' Cultural Palace to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and to pay tribute to these endeavoring at the grassroots, from different walks of life.
Since 2015, the Central Academy of Fine Arts has been motivating its teachers and students to make portrayals for model workers from various fields, to create an image archive of the figures who have contributed to the country. Figures at the current exhibition include these from the manufacturing industries, science and new technologies such as AI and biotech, the fields of cultural heritage and protection and different sections of the city administration.
Yu Ding, the exhibition's curator and dean of CAFA's Sino-French Institute of Arts and Design Management, in Shanghai, says the event has built a bridge to connect artists and professionals from a wider social spectrum who share responsibilities to empower the country with hard work and hold up high the spirit of devotion.
The exhibition is organized by the Shanghai Municipal Trade Union Council.