Memories of artwork creation from the CIIE shared by painting master

Editor's Note: This year marks the 5th anniversary of the China International Import Expo. The CIIE Bureau and the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) launched the "My CIIE Story" activity on June 1 to invite people who are involved in the previous CIIEs to share their stories and have received a large number of warm responses so far. From today on, this supplement will publish the excellent works of "My CIIE Story" in succession. In July, the stories will center on "grand strategy", which will showcase the CIIE's role in promoting key national strategies, diplomatic relationships and international public good. Let's follow the words written by the authors and look back on their wonderful moments from the past five years.

It has been nearly five years since the first China International Import Expo was held. As I look back, the creation of the traditional Chinese painting made for the CIIE remains clear in my mind.

The painting, dubbed Chun Feng You Lyu Jiang Nan An, literally means spring breeze has greened the southern shore of Yangtze River again.

It was unexpected opportunity for me to create this huge painting. At noon on Oct 6, 2018, I received a phone call from the Shanghai information office during my business trip to Yixing of Jiangsu province, informing me to get back for a meeting at once. Then, I had to rush back to Shanghai halfway from my destination.

The meeting invited industry leaders from the art world to contribute ideas and help create a new traditional Chinese painting to be exhibited in the reception hall of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), with only 28 days until the opening ceremony. Unexpectedly, I was asked to share my thoughts. I suggested two themes of creation, one of which was to demonstrate beautiful scenery featuring a Jiangnan water town, an iconic city water town style in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

This theme was finally approved because it presents the cultures of Jiangnan and Shanghai, the host city of the CIIE.

The CIIE was launched as China marked the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up in 2018. The debut of the CIIE is not only a great innovation in the history of international trade development, but also a major decision made by China to promote a new round of high-level opening-up.

Through this painting, we hoped to express the excitement and delights of people in Shanghai and regions along the south bank of the Yangtze River in housing the event which marked China's new-round of reform and opening-up.

We devoted ourselves to making this artwork perfect. We used our expertise to enlarge the initial draft by more than 100 times to fit its designated size in the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) and ensure its aesthetic standard.

The artwork, with a height of 784 centimeters and a width of 1310cm was the largest painting featuring a green landscape in China and even the world at that time. It was also a significant artwork of the key national ceremonial places depicting the idyllic scenery of the mountains and rivers in the regions south of the Yangtze River.

In this piece, the creative team had to incorporate oriental aesthetics and the Chinese culture and ethos of our times. This artwork offers visitors an immersive experience of enjoying the hustle and bustle in the Jiangnan water towns and admiring the typical scenery.

The author is vice-chairman of the Shanghai Artists Association, director of the China Artists Association, director of the Chinese Painting Institue, member of the Shanghai Literary and Art Circles, director of the Arts Committee of China International Import Expo, director of the Arts Committee of Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum, expert judge of the China National Arts Fund, and distinguished professor of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts.