The "U.S.-China Art Dialogue", co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art with support from the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, was successfully held in Hong Kong on March 28, 2025.
The event brought together prominent figures from the international art world, including Alexandra Munroe, Senior Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel, alongside leading Chinese art professionals such as Philip Tinari, Director and Chief Executive of UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, renowned artist Xu Bing, and Prof. Huang Xiaofeng, Dean of the School of Humanities of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Zhou Jiancheng, CUSEF President, along with approximately 100 scholars, experts, and artists from China and the U.S., gathered to embark on a cross-cultural journey of artistic dialogue.
Shen Xin, Vice President of CPAFFC, remarked that cultural exchanges between China and the U.S. have a long and rich history, with artists building bridges of mutual understanding and appreciation between the peoples of both countries. He noted that while Chinese and American cultures each have their unique strengths, this event sought to use art—a universal language that transcends borders and speaks directly to the heart—to break down geographical and ideological barriers, inspire wisdom through intellectual exchanges, and foster friendship through shared experiences. He also expressed the hope that young artists and scholars from both countries engage in open discussions, sharing insights and the essence of artistic practices.
In a video address, Wu Weishan, Director of the National Art Museum of China and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, emphasized that at a time when globalization faces new challenges, art, as a vessel of civilization, carries the mission of transcending language and national boundaries. He highlighted that China-U.S. relations, being among the most consequential bilateral relationships in the world today, mean that the depth and breadth of cultural exchanges not only impact the two nations but also influence the trajectory of global civilization. This, he said, is precisely why such dialogues are meaningful.
During the event, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as emerging academic trends in Chinese and American art, the role and significance of artistic creation in cultural exchange, and the catalytic function of art in contemporary China-U.S. relations. Guests openly shared their creative challenges and inspirations, sparking new artistic ideas through the collision of perspectives.
