Cumulus Beijing 2023: Narratives of Love

Conference leaflet – full text (PDF) Cumulus_ Beijing2023_conference_ introduction

Call for papers to be open end of June on the following topics:

Theme: Narratives of Love

“Crisis and Opportunity”

Throughout the past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity has shown its remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. However, the relief felt at the end of the pandemic was short-lived as it was quickly overshadowed by the nervousness surrounding the ongoing world crisis. It is now more urgent than ever to re-examine our ecological foundation, lifestyle, production relations, and the meaning of life. The diverse advancements in artificial intelligence have created a dilemma for human self-understanding and the ethics of human-machine interaction, evoking a mixture of hope and fear.

With the increasingly intensifying climate warming, cultural conflicts, economic fragmentation, and scientific iteration, how do humans react to standards of morality, ideas of design, thought of art, and methods of education? These common issues in the field of art and design will provide us with important references for strategic adaptation, structural reshaping, and redefinition of values.

“Ideology and Ideality”

Over the ages, “Love”, as the matrix of human sensibility and rationality, the enlightenment of ideology and idealism, is the harmony of Tao, nature, and human wisdom. Love permeates every aspect of human civilization. Chinese civilization, Greek civilization, Islamic civilization, Indian civilization, Egyptian civilization, and the Maya civilization, among almost all major cultural systems, unanimously cherish and emphasize the importance of ‘Love’.

From the symbiosis of humans and nature, the healing of collective traumas, the compatibility of heterogeneous perspectives, the stability of social structures, to the innovation of art and culture, “Love” has always been created, interpreted, applied, and disseminated through a harmonious beauty, providing solace to life and nurturing existence. We firmly believe that facing an uncertain future, “Love” will continue to be the immortal energy driving the evolution and progress of human civilization, enduring through the ages and persisting eternally.

The current Cumulus Association International Art and Design Conference has chosen “Narrative of Love” as its annual theme. Through the means of art and design, the conference aims to explore and interpret the ideas and forms of “Love” in multiple dimensions, including the individual, family, ethnic group, nation, world, nature, even the supernatural. It will delve into the realms of thoughts and thinking, discussing interdisciplinary topics such as culture and ecology, society and education, policy and economy, science and ethics, philosophy and faith. The conference seeks to gather cross-cultural wisdom to explore the future directions and methodologies of art and design.

“East and West”

Beijing, as the capital of China, stands as a profound embodiment of rich historical heritage, serene ecological surroundings, avant-garde fashion districts, vibrant community life, efficient service systems, and endearing folk traditions. These multifaceted elements have forged a distinctive design culture with worldwide influence, making Beijing an indispensable gateway and an enchanting source of inspiration for global designers, artists, and scholars to experience the essence of Chinese culture and the grandeur of Eastern civilization.

We eagerly anticipate the gathering of Cumulus members from around the world in Beijing in November 2023, where we can unite in our efforts to forge a sustainable future imbued with the essence of “Love,” igniting passion, motivation, and hope.

Location:
CAFA Conference: Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing
Parallel Conference: Sichuan Fine Arts Institute , Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Xi ‘an Academy of Fine Arts, Nanjing University of the Arts, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Xiamen University

Time:
CAFA Conference: November 22-24
Beijing Cultural Tour: November 25-26
Parallel Conference: November 27-28 (November 29 Sichuan, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Nanjing, Jingdezhen, Xiamen Cultural Tour)