“Interconnection”: Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture and Exposition of Chinese-French Yong Architects (Parallel Exposition) Are Opened at ZJAM

pubdate: 2024/3/31   author: zjam  source: zjam  click:

In the evening of March 29, 2024, the opening ceremony of “Interconnection”: Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture jointly held by the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Shanghai and ZJAM was unveiled in the Central Hall of ZJAM. It coincided with the opening ceremony of the “Exposition of Chinese-French Yong Architects” (Parallel Exposition) jointly held by the School of Architectural Art, China Academy of Art (CAA) and ZJAM. These expositions will last until May 5.

Guests who attended the opening ceremony included: Joan Valadou, the Consul General of France in Shanghai; Ludovic Andres, attache of technical cooperation, Embassy of France in China; Jin Yibin, secretary of the Party Committee of CAA; Xu Peng, Level I Bureau Rank Official of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture Radio, Television and Tourism; Chen Yanqin, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government; Fu Qiaoling, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of CAA; Wang Shu, dean of the School of Architectural Art, CAA and co-founder of Amateur Architecture Studio; Zhang Tong, dean of the School of Architecture, Southeast University; He Zixin, deputy director of No.3 Business Division of Qianjiang Customs; Liang Bing, Level III Bureau Rank Official of the Foreign Exchange and Cooperation Office of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture Radio, Television and Tourism; Du Qun, secretary of the General Party Branch and deputy curator of ZJAM; Qian Cheng and Huang Shouyao, deputy curators of ZJAM; Ye Cheng, curator of “Interconnection”: Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture; Lu Wenyu, curator of the Exposition of Chinese-French Yong Architects, director of the Experimental Center of the School of Architectural Art, CAA and co-founder of Amateur Architecture Studio, as well as exhibited architect representatives, teacher and student representatives of CAA, and new media representatives. The opening ceremonies were moderated by Ying Jinfei, curator of ZJAM.

At the opening ceremonies, Xu Peng, Level I Bureau Rank Official of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture Radio, Television and Tourism, Joan Valadou, the Consul General of France in Shanghai, and Wang Shu, dean of the School of Architectural Art, CAA delivered speeches one after another, and Ye Cheng, curator of “Interconnection”: Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture, delivered a speech. Finally, Joan Valadou, Xu Peng, as well as Jin Yibin, secretary of the Party Committee of CAA; Chen Yanqin, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government; Wang Shu, dean of the School of Architectural Art, CAA; Ying Jinfei, curator of ZJAM; Lu Wenyu, curator of the Exposition of Chinese-French Yong Architects, and Ye Cheng, curator of “Interconnection”: Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture unveiled the expositions together.

Guests unveiling the expositions together

Xu Peng, Level I Bureau Rank Official of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture Radio, delivering a speech

In his speech, Xu Peng, Level I Bureau Rank Official of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture Radio, said that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and provides a good opportunity for the two countries to celebrate the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism and build a better vision for the future. He pointed out that promoting mutual cultural appreciation and understanding is important consensus reached by the leaders of China and France in terms of cultural exchanges, and ZJAM, as a national key art museum, undertakes the important mission of promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries. He further noted that these expositions pay a tribute to the exchanges between Chinese and French architects that have been maintained for more than a century and include both classic works of master architects and explorations and attempts made by young talents, fully demonstrating the different concepts, styles and achievements of contemporary architecture in China and France. He concluded that these expositions create a platform for dialogues, exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and French architectural cultures and is a useful attempt for the two countries to promote the construction of modern cities and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind together.

Joan Valadou, the Consul General of France in Shanghai, delivering a speech

In his speech, Joan Valadou, the Consul General of France in Shanghai, said that we celebrated the excellence of French and Chinese contemporary architectural creations in the beautiful city of Hangzhou with joy. He indicated that France and Hangzhou maintain deep friendship and cooperation, as evidenced in their close exchanges and partnerships in the fields of economy, culture, academia and higher education. The “Interconnection” exposition is organized during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and China and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, which prelude a series of events organized by the two countries this year to celebrate their vibrant cultural cooperation. The “Interconnection” exposition is a shining star among these events, showcasing renowned contemporary architects and studios of young architects and providing an opportunity for us to appreciate the richness and diversity of architectural design in China and France. With distinct cultural and natural symbols, these design projects appeal to our senses, emotions, intuition and reasoning and reveal different possibilities of building, living and designing.

Wang Shu, dean of the School of Architectural Art, CAA, delivering a speech

In his speech, Wang Shu, dean of the School of Architectural Art, CAA, said that the “Exposition of Chinese-French Yong Architects” was planned and successfully held within a short period of time, and behind it was a story of exchanges between Chinese and French architectural circles for 20 years. Wang Shu said that cities and buildings have the greatest influence on people’s thought and life in this era - they are the most massive but the least displayed exhibits in the exhibition hall. This exhibition is a rare architectural exhibition that epitomizes the exchanges between China and France. Over the past 100 years, the exchange of ideas on the development of architecture between China and France has been of extraordinary significance, and Chinese architects are deeply influenced by the ENSA school system. China is also influenced by France’s emphasis on urban planning and its progressive recognition of architecture as culture and art. Wang Shu explained that the Exposition of Chinese-French Yong Architects displays the works of architects from six French schools and two Chinese schools, many of whom are young winners of national architecture and landscape design awards granted by the French Ministry of Culture and the “Architecture China Award”.

Ye Cheng, curator of the Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture, delivering a speech

In his speech, Ye Cheng, curator of the Exposition of China-France Contemporary Architecture thanked the Embassy of France in China, the Consulate General of the Republic of France in Shanghai, ZJAM and the School of Architectural Art, CAA, for their support and help. He said that the exposition marks the first gathering of Chinese and French architects since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France 60 years ago. With “Interconnection” as the theme, the exposition features both internationally renowned master architects including two winners of Pritzker Architecture Prize and six French architectural academicians and new talents in the industry, with the aim of building up a bridge between Chinese and French cities and architecture. It is also an experiment in comparative architecture between China and France that tries to identify the similarities and differences between Chinese and French architects in architectural creations and the approach to integrating their respective cultures into designs. Different types of architectural works from different regions echo each other on the same exposition platform, bringing out a series of dialogues on the spirituality of architecture.

Ying Jinfei, curator of ZJAM, moderating the opening ceremonies

A group photo of the guests at the opening ceremonies