en
Arts Committee of the World Eco-Design Organization
Jiangsu Industrial Design Association
Host:
Design Artists Committee of Jiangsu Industrial Design Association
Exhibition Statement
Sitting is one of the most ordinary daily postures of human life, deeply embedded in the fabric of living. Seating furniture not only fulfills functional needs but also reflects various aspects of society, including culture, ethnicity, values, aesthetics, economy, and technology.
As one of the most grounded and human-centered categories of furniture, even in today’s era where the internet is reshaping social interaction, people still long for face-to-face communication supported by a simple seat—quiet conversations, open hearts, and the exchange of ideas. This is an irreplaceable warmth in life.
Painting is one of the core competencies of designers. On one hand, designers use painting to cultivate their artistic sensibility, capturing the beauty of nature and everyday life, which in turn nourishes their design aesthetics. On the other hand, design itself is a creative fusion of technical rationality and artistic sensibility, integrating art and technology into the creation of “objects of beauty.”
This exhibition adopts a “pop-up” format, selecting a mature chair form as its foundation. Designers reinterpret it through rapid artistic creation using painting. Though the perspective may seem small, it reflects the essential artistic cultivation expected of a designer.
Life needs the nourishment of art, and art needs grounding in life. When everyday seating meets artistic painting, what kind of innovative sparks will emerge? This is the central question this exhibition seeks to explore and present.
Exhibited Works
Dust Wu Hong, Professor at Shenzhen University, Fashion Designer
Cat Feng Xinqun, Professor at Donghua University, Interior Designer
Blooming Flowers Cao Xianghui, Professor at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Visual Designer
Left · Right Sun Shengyin, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Environmental Sculptor
Infinity Han Wei, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Interior Designer
Withered Lotus Qian Dajing, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Public Art Designer
Study Chair Yang Zhilin, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Visual Designer
A Fly Yang Zhilin, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Visual Designer
Rong Cao Jianning, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Fashion Designer
Nature Wang Haohui, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Art Designer
Blue-Green Landscape Chair Li Yiwen, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Product Designer
Tree on the Chair Jin Fanjiu, Gold Mantis (Suzhou), Interior Designer
Take Off Liao Jun, Professor at Suzhou Art & Design Technology Institute, Art Designer
Life He Xiaoyou, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Product Designer
Playing in Water He Xiaoyou, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Product Designer
Fusion Li Lixin, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Design Theorist
One Green Leaf, One Yellow Leaf Wang Chenghao, Professor at Nanjing XiaoZhuang University, Art Designer
Flow of Stone Jin Baolin, Interior Decoration Designer
009 Huang Hai, Professor at Suzhou Art & Design Technology Institute, Interior Designer
Dog Wu Jianhua, Professor at Suzhou Art & Design Technology Institute, Decorative Designer
Rhythm Mao Baitao, Professor at Jiangnan University, Interior Designer
Garden Making Wei Dongfeng, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Interior Designer
Nest Wang Qiong, Gold Mantis (Suzhou), Interior Designer
Non-Duality of Being and Non-Being Ni Jianlin, Professor at Nanjing Normal University, Design Theorist
To Sit Is to Let Go Li Ke, Professor at Nanjing Vocational University of Industry Technology, Ceramic Designer
Frog Jiang Zhusong, Professor at Soochow University, Art Designer
A Moment of Leisure in Busy Times Fu Kai, Professor at Nanjing Tech University, Environmental Designer
Lotus Pond at Sunset Zhao Jun, Professor at Southeast University, Environmental Designer
Ease Yang Maochuan, Professor at Jiangnan University, Architectural Designer
A Dog Gazing at the Starry Sky Xu Jiankang, Professor at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Art Designer
Lotus Yang Zhenhe, Professor at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Art Designer
Dust Zhao Jian, Professor at Nanjing Normal University of Special Education, Art Designer
Marx stated in the Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844:
“Animals produce only according to the standards and needs of their species, while humans know how to produce according to the standards of any species and how to apply the inherent standard to the object; thus humans also produce according to the laws of beauty.”
Labor not only shapes the material world but also carves out the realm of beauty. The essence of design lies in guiding existing conditions toward a better state through thought, method, and action. By harmonizing the softness of aesthetic sensibility with the rigidity of technology, design creates “objects of beauty.”
The presence, atmosphere, and character expressed by an object reflect its inner quality. The higher its aesthetic value, the better the experience it provides, and the greater its efficiency and commercial value. Technology’s mission is to solve logical relationships between objects, while the core of design is to anchor harmonious coexistence between humans and objects.
A designer’s artistic cultivation is the key to realizing “objects of beauty.” In today’s context of informatization, networking, digitization, intelligence, and virtualization, there is also a call for deeper integration of “artification.” With human-centered, emotional, experiential, sensory, and artistic design orientations, modern technology can better serve people and infuse life with aesthetic warmth.
The ultimate vision of design is to achieve “artified living,” representing a concept of high-quality life.
Chair Painting He Xiaoyou, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, Product Designer
Guangzhou,China/CA, USA
+86 - 19925740779
wedc@vip.126.com
