Themed "Originally Substantial, Resilient Growth," the 2025 Changsha Houhu Public Art Week is being held at the Houhu Maiduo Art Space from November 15 to 30, according to the Public Art Committee of the Hunan Artists Association.
Poster of the 2025 Changsha Houhu Public Art Week.
With "Originally Substantial, Resilient Growth"，a phrase of Changsha dialect that brims with local vitality，as its theme, this year's art week seeks to explore the evolution of art from individual expression to public care. The phrase affirms the authentic state of life while expressing an aspiration for resilient growth. Every individual is inherently substantial, possessing unique inner qualities and value. The term "Resilient Growth" calls for the enduring strength rooted deep in the soil of the times, vividly embodying the spirit of public art.
The art week structures its exhibitions around three fields: art, city, and life. The indoor section "Meta-Force Field" focuses on the essence of art, featuring works by invited artists including Lv Pinchang, Liu Yun, He Liwei, Wei Chunyu, Duan Jianghua, Kan Le, Dang Chaoyang, and Huang Liyou. This indoor exhibition at Maidou Art Space initiates a dialogue on "Easel Art and Painting in the Public Sphere." The outdoor section "Core Convergence Hub" extends into urban spaces, with works by artists such as Xiao Xiaoqiu, XY Yu, and Ding Cheng scattered throughout public areas surrounding Maiduo Space. Grounded in public participation and discourse, these artworks seamlessly integrate art into the fabric of everyday life.
The special program "Symbiosis Field" delves into community life, featuring the "Sign Language Planet · Art Market for Both the Disabled and Healthy People," part of a public welfare initiative launched by Wang Han, a renowned TV host from Hunan. This not only extends the social care of the art week, but also vividly interprets the "people-centered nature of art." The creative works by those with disabilities powerfully demonstrate the inherent equality of life: every life possesses unique creativity and deserves to thrive resiliently under the sun.
"The true public art is not an artist's solitary monologue, but a vibrant practice of engaging in dialogue with the people; it is not mere urban decoration, but a cultural action that shapes the public spirit," said Li Huiwu, curator of the art week and director of the Art Theory Committee of the Hunan Artists Association. Li added that in the vibrant artistic venue of Houhu, this art week aims to make art a genuine emotional bond connecting people with each other and linking people with the city. It is hoped that "Originally Substantial" would be a confident declaration for every individual, and "Resilient Growth" would be the shared urban spirit.
The art week is under the guidance of the Publicity Department of the CPC Working Committee of the Hunan Xiangjiang New Area, the Office of Cultural Tourism Industrial Chain of the Hunan Xiangjiang New Area, and the Headquarters for the Work of the Houhu Design and Creative Park. The event is hosted by the Public Art Committee of the Hunan Artists Association, the Federation of Literary and Art Circles of the Hunan Xiangjiang New Area, and the Lushan Holding Group.