On October 26, the 2024 Guilin Arts Festival opened in Guilin, Guangxi, under the theme “Looking Back and Moving Forward.” This year’s festival made a notable debut in visual arts, showcasing three major exhibitions: the “BETWEEN” Prague Performance Design and Space Biennale National Exhibition, the Central Academy of Drama’s Young Artists Exhibition, and the “Passing the Torch—20 Years of the Li River Painting School: Second Young Art Exhibition.” These exhibitions promise a visual feast for attendees.
The Guilin Arts Festival continues the tradition established 80 years ago by the Southwest Drama Festival. Following the approach of the late Ouyang Yuqian, who founded the Guangxi Provincial Art Museum with a three-department structure, this festival serves as a comprehensive arts showcase centered on drama, supported by music and visual arts.
One of the highlights, the “BETWEEN” Prague Performance Design and Space Biennale National Exhibition, is organized by the China Stage Design Society and marks its first appearance in China. The exhibition features documented performance design cases, QR code-linked performance videos, operational visual installations corresponding to each case, and encourages audience participation—ultimately showcasing classic Chinese stage design.
In an interview, the curator and vice president of the China Stage Design Society, Liu Xinglin, reflected on his deep connection to Guilin, stating, “Forty years ago, I came to Guilin to sketch as a student, and it left a lasting impression on me. The rich history and culture here, along with the gentle landscapes, have a unique Eastern charm. All these geographical, historical, and cultural elements influence artists subtly, igniting their creative inspiration.”
The Central Academy of Drama’s Young Artists Exhibition is also making its domestic debut. In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Southwest Drama Festival, this exhibition features outstanding works from students in four areas: costume design, makeup design, lighting design, and performance imaging. It aims to uphold the ideals of Ouyang Yuqian, the academy’s founding director, and to showcase the educational accomplishments of the Stage Design Department while fostering collaboration across different artistic disciplines.
The Li River Painting School, a modern artistic movement in Guangxi, has maintained its vibrant presence over the past 20 years, influencing both the region and beyond, including ASEAN countries.
According to韦俊平, the curator of the “Passing the Torch” exhibition and president of the Guangxi Li River Painting School Promotion Association, this art show is a key part of the Li River Painting School’s 20-year celebration. It features young artists and high-quality works that span various styles and themes, aiming to preserve the character and artistic standards of earlier generations of the Li River painters and to ensure the continued growth of this artistic lineage.
All three exhibitions are currently on display at the Guilin Art Museum and will run until early November.
