On the afternoon of November 9, the The Perfect Path. Hangzhou, Marco Polo's "city of heaven" exhibition opened with an inaugural press conference at the Art Museum of China Academy of Art (CAA), a national key art museum in China.
On the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, La Biennale di Venezia with its Historical Archive of the Contemporary Arts (ASAC) celebrates in Hangzhou, with the special support of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai and the Italian Cultural Institute in Shanghai, his extraordinary abilities as a traveler and connoisseur of peoples with a special project. The exhibition is jointly hosted by CAA and La Biennale di Venezia and organized by the Art Museum of CAA and ASAC.
The exhibition was inaugurated by featured figures, including Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of La Biennale di Venezia; Xu Jiang, Vice Chairman of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles (ZFLA), and Director of the Academic Board of CAA; Tiziana D'Angelo, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai; Qian Xiaofang, Standing Committee Member of CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and Deputy Director of the Education, Science, Culture, and Public Health Committee; Andrea Del Mercato, Director General of La Biennale di Venezia; Jin Yibin, Chairman of the Committee of Academy Affairs of CAA; Debora Rossi, Head of ASAC; Chen Yao, Deputy Director of the Ethnic and Overseas Chinese Affairs (Foreign Affairs) Committee of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress; Francesco D'Arelli, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Shanghai; Gu Jianxin, Party Secretary and Director of the Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office; Luigia Lonardelli, curator of the exhibition; Ge Xuebin, Vice President of CCPIT Zhejiang; and Lü Weigang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism of Zhejiang Province. They participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Perfect Path. Hangzhou, Marco Polo's "city of heaven".
Also present at the opening ceremony were Maria Cristiana Costanzo, Head of Press and Media Relations, Visual Arts and Architecture Department at La Biennale di Venezia; Mariagrazia Pontorno, Assistant to President of La Biennale di Venezia; Roger M. Buergel, Co-Curator of Documenta 12; Jiang Guoxing, General Manager of Zhejiang Cultural Industry Investment Group; Qiu Zhijie, President of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts; Jiang Yüfeng, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Institute of Cultural and Historical Research; Shen Hao, Vice President of CAA; Fu Qiaoling, Vice Chairman of the Committee of Academy Affairs of CAA; Li Dujin, Secretary of Discipline Inspection Committee of Wenzhou University; Jin Guoqiang, Chief of Division III for Civil Servants, Department of Organization of Zhejiang Province; Sun Beilei, Chief of European Affairs Division of Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Office; former leaders of CAA, including Song Jianming, Hu Zhonghua, and Wang Zan. Other distinguished participants included Situ Li, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and Professor at CAA; Shi Hui, Professor at CAA and artist at the 60th International Art Exhibition Venice; Wang Shu, Dean of School of Architecture at CAA, Pritzker Prize Laureate, member of Académie d'Architecture in France, and artist at the 10th International Architecture Exhibition Venice; Lu Wenyu, Professor at CAA and member of Académie d'Architecture in France; and Wang Xiaosong, Curator of the China Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition Venice and Vice Dean of the School of Art and Archaeology at Zhejiang University, as well as all members of the Academic Board of CAA.
Directors and representatives from major museums, cultural institutions, and galleries, including the National Art Museum of China, Beijing Fine Art Academy, China National Silk Museum, Jiangsu Art Museum, Zhejiang Art Museum, China National Archives of Publications and Culture (Hangzhou Branch), Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Tianjin Museum, and West Lake Museum attended the opening ceremony, along with artists, media representatives, and faculty and student representatives of relevant functional agencies and teaching units of CAA. The event was presided over by Yu Xuhong, Director of Art Museum of CAA.
"A single stream connects the lakes of West Lake, misty green mountains encircle the Buddhist temples. Autumn brings clarity to gardens of the homeland; tomorrow, the osmanthus will face the wind and rain." These lines were written by Hangzhou poet Qiu Yuan in 1287, the same year Marco Polo is believed to have first visited Hangzhou, describing it as the "City of Heaven" and "the finest and most splendid city in the world." The year 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, with both governments jointly releasing the Action Plan on Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2024–2027) in July. This exhibition is the sign of the first collaboration arising from the three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by La Biennale di Venezia and CAA on August 8, 2024.
To commemorate Marco Polo as a cultural envoy between China and Italy, La Biennale di Venezia launched the project The Wind Makes the Sky, which retraces his footsteps.
Both China and Italy are ancient civilizations with a long history. The two nations share a common understanding: the history of a civilization did not perish with the past; instead, its vitality remains potent in the present, contributing to contemporary society. China and Italy, with the memories and potential carried on its history, learn from each other, and unfold in its unique context. At the MoU signing ceremony in August, Gao Shiming, CPC Committee Member, Secretary of Secretariat and former President of CAA, stated, "Our shared aim is to 'draw from the sources, and venture with the greats' in contemporary art in the context of world civilization. In the future, the two sides will unite the artistic and cultural forces in China and Asia to deepen cooperation with La Biennale di Venezia, expanding the space for cultural exchanges between China and Italy and unleashing a richer spectrum of 21st-century art."
At the opening ceremony, Jin Yibin said, "The Perfect Path. Hangzhou, Marco Polo's 'city of heaven' is a gathering of friendship that transcends mountains and seas, embodying harmony and coexistence. China and Italy, both ancient civilizations with rich cultural heritage and long-standing traditions, have made foundational contributions to the advancement of human civilization. Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road closely connected the two countries, promoting an exchange of civilizations that reflects the shared inclusivity and creative spirit in our cultures. In 2024, the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, artists from both countries continue to respect and recognize each other as they frequently execute high-quality works in the field of contemporary art. Many professors at CAA have been invited to participate in numerous editions of La Biennale di Venezia. Today, the arrival of La Biennale di Venezia at CAA represents a positive step in the implementation of our cultural cooperation agreement."
Tiziana D'Angelo remarked that Italy and China have always maintained strong ties of friendship, and that the artistic exchanges between the two nations are significant to the interaction and fusion of their cultures. The first stop of La Biennale di Venezia outside of Italy is here in Hangzhou—a city deeply connected to Venice by historical ties. The exhibition brings together 18 Chinese artists and 43 works from artist groups affiliated with CAA. Their outstanding contributions have substantially enriched the cultural exchange between the two countries. CAA and La Biennale di Venezia are two influential cultural institutions with exceptional capabilities in art organization, curation, enormous artistic influence, and international outreach. For 700 years, Marco Polo's name has symbolized the friendship and exchange between the two peoples. It is hoped that this exhibition commemorating Marco Polo will become a landmark event in the cultural exchange between Italy and China.
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco said that La Biennale di Venezia embraces all forms of contemporary art, and its insight and expression in this domain have maintained its essential position within the international contemporary art world. This marks the first time that La Biennale di Venezia has ventured outside Italy to the city of Hangzhou, where artists from Italy and China collaboratively interpret shared elements within their respective cultures. This exhibition not only demonstrates the artists' remarkable skills but also advances cultural exchange and development between the two countries through art, allowing the entire world to see a genuine and multifaceted China.
Francesco D'Arelli observed that this exhibition is a significant achievement, symbolizing the ancient and profound friendship between Italy and China. It represents an exchange between two civilizations with deep-rooted historical and cultural heritage, while also pointing to future prospects for collaboration—an extension of Marco Polo's journey. Over 700 years ago, Marco Polo traveled from Venice to China, and through his accounts, he introduced China's distinguished Eastern culture to Europe, letting the West understand China. At this gathering in Hangzhou, China, Francesco D'Arelli expressed his hope that through cultural exchange, experience and resource sharing, both sides can move forward together towards a shared future.
Debora Rossi emphasized that the ASAC collects and preserves the conservational and documentary assets of the Venice Biennale. The Archive uses these materials for research, study, and learning to collaborate with cultural institutions on planning future projects and initiatives. La Biennale di Venezia is organized with strong support from the Italian Ministry of Culture. In 1998, young Chinese artists participated in the Biennale for the first time, and since 2005, a dedicated "China Pavilion" has been established. The dialogue between art and culture knows no boundaries and imposes no limits. "Today is merely the first step of a thousand-mile journey, and we believe that more perfect results of our collaboration will come in the future."
Luigia Lonardelli stated that this exhibition showcases many exquisite artworks, conveying the artists' visions and concepts through elements, symbolism, and motifs. The Wind Makes the Sky invites us to follow the "wind" as we tour the exhibition, experiencing the artists' reflections.
Founded in 1895, La Biennale di Venezia is one of the largest and most important contemporary visual art exhibitions globally and the oldest international art biennale. From its inception, La Biennale di Venezia has held firm to the belief that "art is the most valuable part of civilization, fostering friendship among peoples." The Biennale encompasses multiple fields—Art, Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Music, and Theatre—reflecting contemporary global issues through art, promoting innovation within the city, and serving as a critical platform for exchange and cooperation within the international art community.
Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of La Biennale di Venezia, noted that both Italy and China have glorious histories and share numerous commonalities in the realm of philosophy. Through collaboration, the diverse thoughts and concepts of both nations can engage in meaningful dialogue, which is bound to present more opportunities for cooperation and extend the long-standing friendship between the two countries into the contemporary cultural landscape. Furthermore, both sides bear a more profound responsibility: to foster the exchanges and interaction of contemporary art and diverse cultural ideas, thus injecting new vitality and brilliance into the present era.
The first leg of this journey following in his footsteps is The Perfect Path, a collective exhibition, with the support of the China Academy of Art, that begins its reflections on the basis of the research that has been cultivated at the Academy. The Perfect Path, the title of the exhibition, is one of the ways to describe the concept of dao. Around this principle, it gathers a group of Chinese artists who have distinguished themselves for their artistic genres, with an outlook mindful of tradition which at the same time fully embraces the latest technological developments. The exhibition displays and enhances the works of artists operating within the Chinese artistic system, which continues to reveal itself as one of the most significant areas of renewal in the languages of visual art, with the aim of portraying a generation that has envisioned and traced an original and innovative path rooted in a millenary tradition.
At the same time, these works bear witness to a structured educational model that has effectively interpreted the uncertainties of our time, taking into account all the interstitial spaces that describe the complex process of fragmentation taking place in our modern world. These artists demonstrate an extraordinary capacity for adaptation in the eyes of those who will admire their works, and their attitudes indicate a road yet to be traveled: these are the trailblazers along an unexplored path who respond to that ancestral need to go just a little bit further.
Outside the museum, a stage designed by the Istanbul-native artist Cevdet Erek, Amfibio, welcomes the public into a space of encounter designed to be shaped and adapted to each location along the route traveled by La Biennale. Inside the exhibition hall, works by artists and creative collectives active in China's contemporary art system are presented, listed alphabetically by surname: Cao Shu, Chen Liang, Cheng Ran, Dai Chenlian, Feng Bingyi, Gao Shiqiang + Mountain Water Collective, Xu Jiang (artist at the 10th International Architecture Exhibition Venice), Kang Kaiwen, Liu Wei (artist at the 51st and 58th International Art Exhibitions Venice), Liu Yi, Qiu Zhijie (artist at the 53rd and 56th International Art Exhibition Venice, curator of the China Pavilion at the 57th International Art Exhibition Venice), Shi Bing + Lin Yi, Yang Fudong (artist at the 50th and 52nd International Art Exhibitions Venice), Ye Yufeng, Yi Lian, Ying Xinshun, Yuan Keru, along with creative teams from the School of Film Art and the School of Animation and Games, CAA. The exhibition includes Xu Jiang's bronze sculpture Is Symbiosis Possible?, Qiu Zhijie's ink-on-paper work Hairy Crab: The Artistic Ecology Map, Gao Shiqiang and Mountain Water Collective's video work Mountain Water: Six Chapters of Yunshan, Liu Wei's installation Look, a Book!, Yang Fudong's black-and-white film Strange Paradise, Yi Lian's photography series Dispersed Continent and Narrative of a Street, Yuan Keru's video installation Eternity and the Moment, Cao Shu's video installation Demon Sugar, among others.
Xu Jiang, Vice Chairman of CFLAC, Chairman of ZFLA, Director of the Academic Board of CAA, and exhibiting artist, reflected that seven hundred years ago, Marco Polo brought an extraordinary perspective that bridged East and West. "This exhibition," he noted, "reflects Curator Luigia Lonardelli's professional insight and understanding of Chinese art. The Wind Makes the Sky evokes the words of Su Shi in his Ode to the Red Cliffs: 'Only the river's pure breeze and the mountain's bright moon, met by the ear and seen by the eye, inexhaustible and unending, embodying the boundless gifts of creation.' A natural poetic quality, like a gentle breeze, fills this exhibition, nurturing a harmony of sentiment and response. I hope that through this exhibition, CAA and La Biennale di Venezia will foster an even stronger relationship for cultural exchange."
Marco Polo has served as a link between China and Italy, Venice and Hangzhou, creating a unique resonance between the past and the present. 2025 marks the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Italy and the 130th anniversary of La Biennale di Venezia. Future collaborations between CAA and La Biennale di Venezia are expected to deepen artistic and cultural exchanges through dialogues between Chinese and international contemporary artists. Together, they will use art to tell China's story, presenting cultural achievements that "fuse ancient and modern, bridge China and the world," and jointly explore the future of global art.
The exhibition opened to the public on November 11 and will run until January 10, 2025.
