On the evening of June 1, the "World Tree: 2024 CAA Graduation Season" celebrated its grand opening at the Liangzhu Campus of the China Academy of Art (CAA). The event featured an opening ceremony and a fashion show starting at 19:28, both of which were live-streamed online. Additionally, the online graduation exhibition has been launched on CAACOSMOS.

The opening ceremony began with the premiere of the short film The Tree on the Singularity. This film features a mystical tree that originates from a cosmic singularity, with its branches and roots suspended between dimensions. This tree symbolizes the support of our spirits through gravity, imagination, and sensitivity, embodying the World Tree that nurtures the CAA community.

Mr. Jin Yibin, Chairman of the Committee of Academy Affairs of CAA, said, "Today, the CAA Graduation Season has evolved into a youth festival that covers cultural and artistic elements such as visual art, design, exhibitions, trends, fashion shows, and bazaars. It gathers many young artists and designers with exceptional, innovative talents and ambitions. Their creations, displayed across the city, are grounded in realities, carry reflections on humanity, and make a positive impact on society."

Mr. Xu Jiang, Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Director of the Academic Board of CAA, announced that this year's graduation season theme is "World Tree"—Trees stand as sentinels of the flora, reflecting human spirits within. The Xiangshan Campus has a blueberry tree personally planted by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and features the "Nine Camphor Trees and Twin Bridges," which encapsulate a vista of our natural environment and embody our commitment to cultivating talent over decades and even centuries. The "World Tree" not only provides a panoramic view of global phenomena but also offers profound insights and approaches to understanding the world. For the latest edition of graduation season, the academic unit focuses on the ecological aspects of trees as they draw sustenance from plant life to unfold youthful vibrancy and poetic interpretations. This is akin to the "World Tree" of the modern world—a tree of youthful vitality, swaying amidst the winds of time, transmitting messages to the future, sprawling across urban branches, and flourishing vigorously. The "World Tree" conveys a message of symbiotic interaction between the core of art education and individual development and showcases the thriving interplay of traditional art forms with new media and materials. It reveals the symbiotic mechanisms between our educational framework and motivational interactions. The "World Tree" intricately weaves together teachers and students, uniting the Academy with society, individuals with the populace, and the present with the future. He cited Tao Xingzhi's message for the "World Tree," intended for a century hence, addressing the youth, the era, and the future, "As long as there remains a drop of sweat, a drop of blood, a drop of passion, it is the divine abode loved by the god of creation, capable of blossoming into flowers of creation, bearing fruits of creation, and nurturing forests of creation."

Mr. Gao Shiming, President of CAA and Vice Chairman of China Artists Association, noted the profound significance of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, a 5000-year-old cradle of Chinese civilization. The enigmatic forces of creation at Liangzhu were gifts from our ancestors to their descendants, providing both an opportunity and enlightenment. Across every ancient culture's mythology, there stands a significant tree that crafts a mystical and exotic genealogy. The annals of cultural history abound with the presence of great trees—Buddha achieved enlightenment beneath a tree; Confucius taught underneath a tree; Plato's Academy was nestled among trees; and Zen Buddhism monasteries were described as "forests" due to their dense trees. Within the lineage of the World Tree, there exist Trees of Life and Wisdom. Today, the revered vocation of education continues to be described as "cultivating people." In a world fraught with conflicts and diverging viewpoints, the need for collective compassion is unprecedented. Creation is the spring of life. It is not just giving; it itself is the reward. The emblem of the "World Tree" invokes a "shared responsibility," where through creation we establish consensus and foster empathy and achieve autonomy and independence. Our lives are always interconnected with countless others, our branches being connected to each other, growing entwined among the myriad things of the world, which is how one's personhood becomes enriched. The ancient lore of the "World Tree" inspires creators to view the world with a broad heart and profound care, perceive humanity through the eyes of nature, and support this world as towering trees.

Li Jialin, a 2020 undergraduate from the School of Chinese Painting at CAA, expressed profound gratitude for the school's tangible impact on his artistic and personal growth. He credits CAA for its rich artistic nourishment, which enabled him to evolve from basic sketching to exploring diverse artistic mediums, from honing technical skills to enhancing his depth of artistic understanding. The Academy advocates for art that not only awakens visual aesthetics in viewers but also fulfills a social responsibility to transmit positive energy through art. Li highlighted that his four-year journey, culminating in his significant graduation project, was not just about creating art but about a deeper self-discovery and a rational exploration of the world.

Choma, a Russian postgraduate from CAA's School of Fashion & Design, reminisced about his arrival at the Academy three years ago, driven by a passion for fashion design. His participation in various fashion contests and exhibitions, as well as forums like the World Youth Development Forum, has enriched his professional knowledge and bolstered his confidence and resilience. With support from the Academy, his family, and friends, he has strengthened his steps toward achieving his dreams. He expressed deep appreciation for CAA's high-quality education and the expansive platform it provided, which brought his academic journey to a fulfilling conclusion.

At the fashion show, the School of Fashion & Design presents the works of 101 graduates under the theme "Between 'Me' and the World." These young fashion designers are poised for a transformative metamorphosis, blending a futuristic vision of fashion with the meticulous craftsmanship of dedicated artisans. Their vibrant energy emerges through questioning, dialogue, and debate, exploring identity, emotional connections, and social responsibility. Through art and perception, they draw experiences and insights from the fusion of artistic sensibility and technological experimentation, exploring the relationship between "Me" and the World.