Graphic design reveals a changing society

"Chinese Graphic Design in the 20th Century: A Documentary" has opened recently at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts.

From monthly posters at the start of the century to Olympic posters from 2008, the 500 exhibits reflect a changing style in people's lives and fashion.

Visitors to the exhibit are whisked away to 1920's Shanghai, where an influx of western commercials are integrated with indigenous new year prints, giving rise to another form of art. The monthly posters were China's earliest form of graphic design.

Gao Jianzhong, Folk Culture Expert, said, "Monthly posters are a combination of western watercolors and Chinese sketches. It's more three-dimensional, and it was prevalent in China for more than half a century. "

This poster, depicting a woman applying makeup, was executed by famous Chinese painter Zheng Mantuo in 1914. It was China's first fashion picture. The picture of a kissing couple hanging on the walls behind the woman was replaced with a picture of seascape during the second printing, making this one the only first edition print known to exist.

"Mulan Coming back in Honor" is the only group painting in the exhibition. The first and final draft, the characters of Mulan and her family, and the birds are all drawn by different painters. The picture was done in 1945, in the years leading up to the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The painters subtly realized their wishes into an artistic creation.

Wang Huangsheng, Professor oF China Central Academy of Fine Arts, said, "A piece of fine art is always considered an artist's expression toward life."

With commercial posters, magazines, and product designs, the exhibition forms a comprehensive presentation and interpretation of design development and the social life of China in the 20th century.