Exhibition Review: The 15th National Comic Art Exhibition of China

 reviewed by Xu Ying, assistant editor, International Journal of Comic Art

The 15^th National Comic Art Exhibition of China. Beijing, China:  Capital Library, April 16-20, 2025.

      This exhibition was sponsored by China Artists’ Association and Tongxiang Municipal People’s Government and was co-organized by the Art Center of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Cartoon Art Committee of China Artists Association, Publicity Department of Tongxiang Municipal Party Committee, the Bureau of Culture and Broadcast, Television, Film, Tourism and Sport of Tongxiang Municipal, and the Tongxiang Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Fig. 1. Capital Library in Beijing.

 

Fig. 2. The Opening Ceremony Stage.

This national exhibition organizers received a total of 3,681 works from all over China, a new record for the number of cartoon works in an exhibition. The China Artists’ Association organized experts from various parts of China for serious initial evaluation and re-evaluation of works. The judges narrowed the number of works to 190, with a wide range of themes, rich contents, and diverse creative methods and forms of expression, all in line with the rules, characteristics, and distinct spirit of comic art creation. The works reflect the overall level and prosperous appearance of comic art creation in China today.

 

Fig. 3. “Do Boldly What Is Righteous.” Chen Tao.

Fig. 4. “Occupy a Seat.” Yang Xiaopei.

 

Fig. 5. “Admire the Eyes.” Zeng Yi.

Fig. 6. “@Gene.” Yu Shouyang.

 

Fig. 7. “Pry to Move the Earth.” Fu Xiaoning.

Fig. 8. “The First Day of School.” Chen Gang.

 

Fig. 9. “Mother’s Love.” Chen Hongyan.

Fig. 10. “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” He Ying.

 

Fig. 11. “The Worry of the Ragman.” Gao Riying.

Fig. 12. “The Future Society.” Ning Deping.

 

Fig. 13. “Vast Prison.” Zhou Lin.

Fig. 14. “You’re Also Stuck.” Qi Jiaona.

 

Fig. 15. “Standard Answer.” Bao Meizhen.

 

The origin of Tongxiang’s association with comic art emanated from Feng Zikai, the first artist to use the word “manhua” in a publication in China in 1925. His artistic spirit influenced generations, with “comic art culture” becoming the name card and cultural brand of Tongxiang. Since 2002, the Municipal Government of Tongxiang, co-operating with China Artists’ Association, has held 14 cartoon exhibitions, about one every two years. Before 2025, it was called “Zikai Cup” Cartoon Exhibition; it changed to the National Comic Art Exhibition.

At this year’s exhibition, the director of the Publicity Department of Tongxiang Municipal Party Committee, Mo Zhonghai, gave a welcoming speech, assuring that Tongxiang will continue to do its best as one of the organizers and will make this comic art exhibition a grand event, that showcases comic art achievements and promotes cultural exchange. Liu Manhua, director of the Cartoon Art Committee, said that the 2025 exhibition represents the highest standard of contemporaneity, thoughtfulness, and artistry of Chinese comic art:  “It is a record of time, a record of the changes of Chinese society, a record of the developing history of Chinese comic art, and is also a review of the creative level of Chinese cartoonists.” Sun Yuanwei, who presented an award speech, based on his own experience of comic art creation, expressed respect for the predecessors of comic art. Many cartoonists from different cities attended the opening ceremony. This exhibition will continue displaying in other cities later on.