▲ Details of exhibition pieces. Swipe to view. Image credits: Tongxin Di & Shen Ting, oame, naze naze.





▲ Photos from the exhibition site. Image credits: Revelations China.

#01

Opening of the First China International Biennial of Crafts and Creation (REVELATIONS CHINA)

▲ Expo poster. Image credits: Revelations China.


The first China International Biennial of Crafts and Creation (REVELATIONS CHINA) was successfully held from September 19 to 23, 2024, at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing. The Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF), as a public welfare partner of REVELATIONS CHINA, specially presented the public welfare exhibition “Utilizing All Things: Long-lasting Vitality.”

Continuing the spirit of the French International Biennale of Crafts and Creation (REVELATIONS), the China International Biennial of Crafts and Creation (REVELATIONS CHINA) is China’s first international event focused on contemporary craft creation. It aims to provide an innovative platform and ecological environment for global artists, designers, artisans, intangible cultural heritage inheritors, and art brands, promoting craft works from around the world with a professional attitude and offering China a contemporary, diverse, and professional platform for international exchange and trade. The China International Biennial of Crafts and Creation is one of the eight key cultural exchange projects for the 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, included in the “Spring of China-France Culture - Special Presentation for the 60th Anniversary of China-France Diplomatic Relations” framework.




▲ Photos from the exhibition site. Image credits: Revelations China.

The first Revelations China featured 126 artists from 16 countries and regions, including China, France, the UAE, Spain, Switzerland, and Morocco, showcasing over 550 pieces of art, incorporating various materials and craft methods such as bamboo, ceramics, lacquer, metal, and fiber. This grand event highlighted the exciting fusion of art, craft, and design, showcasing the unique charm and limitless possibilities of contemporary craftsmanship.

#02

BCAF Public Welfare Exhibition Booth

▲ Photos from the booth. Swipe to view. Image credits: Revelations China.


As a public welfare partner of REVELATIONS CHINA, the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF), supported by the French Art Trade Union and Beijing International Design Week, presented the public welfare exhibition “Utilizing All Things: Long-lasting Vitality.”

The exhibition featured 25 pieces from three groups of artists and benefit brands—artist duo Tongxin Di & Shen Ting, and benefit brands naze naze and oame—comprising materials such as ceramics, metal, organic cotton, and wool. These exhibits demonstrated how traditional ceramic techniques, the weaving arts of the Dulong ethnic group in Yunnan, and the embroidery, shiny cloth, and plant dyeing traditions of the Dong people in Guizhou can return to modern life through contemporary design and technology, aligning with current lifestyles to achieve new artistic expressions, thus creating functional and aesthetically pleasing daily items.

Details of the exhibits:
RC2024 Participating Organization - Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation.

▲ Photos from the booth. Swipe to view. Image credits: Revelations China.


As written in the exhibition introduction: “Objects in daily life are companions that warm people's lives. When beauty merges with daily life, beauty becomes more robust, and true beauty emerges. The ordinary items created with ease by humanity evoke emotion, making the heart feel so grounded and strong.”

Crafts are directly linked to individual daily lives, and the wisdom and beauty embedded in traditional crafts are moving. Creation cannot exist without tradition; otherwise, it loses its foundational vitality. However, rigidity should also be avoided, as it distances the craft from its relevance to contemporary humanity. In the face of ongoing global ecological deterioration and turmoil in humanistic spirit, long-term design and sustainable concepts are becoming an inevitable trend—presenting tradition in the form and medium of creation, reflecting the continuous and unbroken vitality, which is the essence of “Utilizing All Things: Long-lasting Vitality.”

#03

At the Exhibition Site

▲ Images from the site. Swipe to view. Image credits: Revelations China, BCAF.

This expo attracted 11,000 on-site visitors, over 1,000 forum guests and audience members, with a total of 1.5 million online views, including visits from 13 ambassador delegations.

On September 21, 2024, marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, H.E. Mr. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the UAE Ambassador to China, led a delegation to the expo for visits and exchanges, highlighting the profound friendship and cooperative spirit between the two countries in cultural exchange. H.E. Mr. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi visited the BCAF public exhibition booth, where staff introduced him to the handicrafts from the Dulong and Dong ethnic groups and the background of the foundation's China New Folk Art project.

▲ Images from the site (BCAF staff introducing exhibits to H.E. Mr. Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi). Other photos swipe to view. Image credits: BCAF.


Attendees showed great interest in the exhibits of this public welfare exhibition. The rich textures and patterns of the works, their exquisite visual and tactile qualities, and their functional attributes made many viewers pause to appreciate, with several expressing a desire to purchase. The shared appreciation for the exhibits sparked exchanges among the audience, discussing topics such as the organic integration of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, sustainable design, algorithms and technology, and the significant roles of traditional craftsmanship in brand innovation, local community empowerment, and cross-cultural communication.

From the “China New Folk Art x International Masters” special exhibition at the 6th French International Biennale of Crafts and Creation in Paris in 2023, to the current public welfare exhibition “Utilizing All Things: Long-lasting Vitality” presented at the first China International Biennial of Crafts and Creation in Beijing this year, the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation continues to connect people in different locations, consistently presenting vibrant traditional craftworks to the audience and providing more opportunities for dialogue and sharing among contemporary Chinese craft communities, artists, and designers.





Click the image below for more information: ▲ China International Biennial of Crafts and Creation: The Public Welfare Exhibition is Coming Soon | BCAF China New Folk Art; Image credits: Revelations China.