Preface

The works of the 1st “Hejian · China International Lampwork Glass Art Festival” was officially published. A total of 418 works were collected during this event. After many rounds of evaluation by domestic and foreign artists, one gold award, two silver awards, three bronze awards and 20 outstanding awards were selected. These works are unique in shape and marvelous in skill, vivid and realistic or dynamic and abstract. Each piece of work shows the perfect glass craftsmanship and creative artistic charm of the artists, showing the superb crafting techniques and aesthetic tastes of the lamp artists at home and abroad as well as reflecting the profound artistic connotation and cultural accomplishment of the artists and demonstrating the unique charm of the craft glass lamp art. Here we extend our hearty congratulations to Mr. WANG Xiajun, Mr. Shane Fero, winners of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the Lamp Art Festival; Mr. FENG Pingsheng, Mr. WU Xin’an, winners of Special Contribution Award; Ms. XING Lanxiang, the winner of Inheritance Contribution Award; Mr. Paul, the winner of Youth Contribution Award and the work design of the selected work collection as well as the processors!

In the report of the 19th CPC National Congress, General Secretary XI Jinping proposed that we should adhere to the road of development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics to stimulate the whole nation’s cultural innovation and creation vitality and to build a socialist cultural power. In order to positively respond to and implement the national “Belt and Road” cultural strategy, to strengthen the civilization mutual learning and mutual understanding among people with the countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” route, and to promote the innovative development of cultural exchange, cultural dissemination and cultural trade. The first China Hejian International Lamp Art Festival jointly sponsored by the School of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University and the Hejian City Government was successfully held in Hejian on Nov.2017. The activity divided into the opening ceremony, the exhibition of award-winning works, the works exhibition of foreign art masters, the lecture of foreign lamp art masters and the spot presentation of lamp craft, the award ceremony for winning works and the closing ceremony. LIU Dawei, the vice president of the Chinese Federation of Literary Arts and the chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, MA Sai, the vice president of the School of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University, Shane Feroo, the former president of the American Glass Art Association and a internationally famous lamp and glass artist, respectively delivered speeches the opening ceremony. More than 100 people attended the opening ceremony including HOU Baohua, the deputy director of the Hebei Province Office in Beijing, LI Pingsi, the vice chairman of the China Arts and Crafts Association and the chairman of the Hebei Arts and Crafts Association, and GUAN Donghai, the deputy director of the Arts and Crafts Department of Fine Arts School of Tsinghua University as well as contestants, domestic and foreign art masters. This Art Festival was a great event for the field of international lamp art where the domestic and foreign masters and artists of lamp art tethered together in Hejian to discuss and learn the skills from each other, which deepened the international peer’s understanding of china’s glass art and promote the continuous development of the art of craft glass. Here are the best regards to Mr. Liu Dawei, the vice president of the China Federation of Literary Arts and the president of the Chinese Artists Association, Mr. LU Xiaobo, the dean of the School of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University and Mr. Shane Fero, the former president of the American Glass Art Association and an internationally renowned lamp glass artist, as well as the leaders, artists, distinguished guests and friends from all fields who attended the “China Hejian International Lamp Art Festival”. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the School of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University and the Glass Profession Committee of China Arts and Crafts Association which have given great support to the holding of the Lamp Arts Festival.

Hejian is a “millennium ancient county” with a long history of more than 2700 years, with a good fame of “the most important place in the southern part of Beijing” and the hometown of many famous people. It is the birthplace of Mao’s Book of Songs, the birthplace of “seeking truth from facts” and the home of Xihe Dagu, a folk art form, and also the hometown of donkey meat Burning in China, the largest daily glass production base in China as well as the largest handmade heat-resistant craft glass production base in the world.

There is a solid foundation of craft glass industrial base in Hejian. In recent years, holding the development concept of “culture leads and innovation drives”, our city vigorously implements differentiation strategies, develops key technology and encourages the transformation and upgrading of craft glass industry, searching for a road of innovation and development of “science and technology, green, and people enriching” become a demonstration base for cultural industry in Hebei Province and a dual base for the transformation of achievements and teaching practice in the School of Fine Arts of Tsinghua University. China Arts and Crafts Association and China Daily Glass Association have awarded honorary titles to our city of “the city of glass craftsmanship” and “China production base of heat-resistant glass”. Craft glass industry has been developed into an industry to enrich people and proper city, also has become a beautiful business card of our city as well as an important carrier of promoting glass craft skill and culture.

At present, our city is meticulously preparing for the 2nd China Hejian International Lamp Art Festival and the 3rd China Hejian Art Glass Design Innovation Competition. We will continue to provide a better displaying and communicating platform for domestic and foreign lamp artists,which could to offer better assistance for inheritance of lamp technology and create a better environment for the development and growth of lamp technician talents. We have every reason to believe that with the successful holding of the Lamp Art Festival, this traditional technology of lamp art will be inherited with brilliant outcomes and will decorate the world as well as benefiting people in Hejian, the “Millennium Ancient County” with excellent Chinese traditional culture!

Looking forward to see each other again in 2018!

Secretary of Hejian Municipal Party

Committee of the CPC