Fusion/ Fission: A joint exhibition of 5 international postgraduates of Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing

Cultural exchange has always been Michelle's guiding principle. A decade ago, she posed a question to herself: what drives international artists to pursue further study in China? Is it a desire to learn specific techniques, immerse themselves in the culture, or create works that merge their cultural background with Chinese influences?

 

With this in mind, Michelle took the initiative to curate an exhibition for five artists from the Postgraduate School of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. "Fusion/Fission" showcased the works of Maki Kuchida from Japan, Rashid Amin from Bangladesh, Darshana Prasad from Sri Lanka, Kim Hyun-ha from Korea, and Stephen Rice from the USA.

 

Maki Kuchida, a Japanese artist, was fascinated by Gong Bi, a traditional Chinese painting style that emphasized meticulous brushwork and intricate details. She believed that China was the ideal destination for her to learn this technique and incorporate it into her work using materials from Japan, such as silk and gold leaf.

 

Rashid Amin, a Bangladeshi artist, had a deep connection to China. He studied print-making in Beijing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and later returned to Bangladesh as a university lecturer. In 2011, he completed his PhD in print-making at the Central Academy of China in Beijing, further fueling his passion for Chinese techniques and culture.

 

The exhibition was a passion project for Michelle, who believed in the power of cultural exchange to bring people closer together. Without any sponsorship, she was able to showcase the talents and cultural backgrounds of these five international artists, demonstrating the diverse perspectives that can be found in the world of art.