Cumulus Conference Beijing 2023: Narratives of Love
Hosted by CAFA, Beijing, China
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
– Academic Papers,
– Creative Works (from institutions: The Teaching Achievement of Cumulus Member Institutions & from designers/artists/other creative practitioners),
– Workshops.
NARRATIVES OF LOVE – TOWARDS HEALING, TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSCENDENCE
November 22- 24, 2023 CAFA Conference
November 25- 26, 2023 Cultural visits
November 27- 28, 2023 (TBC) Parallel Conference
November 29, 2023 – Cultural visits
The conference is actively seeking new insights and social reflections as reflected in these conference tracks:
CAFA Conference Track 1
Themes:
-Narratives of Love (Central Academy of Fine Arts)
-Foresight Plan (Central Academy of Fine Arts)
-Design Flow (Central Academy of Fine Arts)
Parallel Conference Track 2
Themes:
Ecology in Design (Sichuan Fine Arts Institute)
Technology in Design (Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts)
Cultures in Design (Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts)
System in Design (Nanjing University of the Arts)
Society in Design (Jingdezhen Ceramic University)
Wellbeing in Design (Xiamen University)
KEY DATES
26 July 2023 Deadline of submitting full papers, creative works and workshop
applications
15 September 2023 Announcing selected papers, creative works and workshops accepted
Cumulus is the leading global association of art and design education and research. It is a dynamic ecosystem for global mobility, knowledge exchange, and collaboration in art and design pedagogy, research, and practice. The 2023 Cumulus Beijing conference will be hosted by the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China in November, with the theme of this year's conference being "NARRATIVES OF LOVE——TOWARDS HEALING, TRANSFORMATION AND TRANSCENDENCE.
Theme
"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 shortlived 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 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 Global Association of Art and Design Education and Research Conference has chosen "Narratives 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. May the radiance of "Love" illuminate the Earth, blessing future generations for eternity. The conference is actively seeking new insights and social reflections on the value of connectivity and creativity in a time of global change, as reflected in these conference.