Poster Art in New China: Commemorating 100 Years of the CCP

With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong set about creating a ‘new China’. Art and cultural workers were crucial to this transformation of Chinese society. They were tasked with creating an uplifting and inspiring visual environment, which would serve to mobilise the masses to support the socialist revolution. But this wasn’t just about creating propaganda, as suggested by the English name for the art on display in this exhibition: propaganda posters. Rather, poster art in new China would help people to visualise what new China could be, and as such, help to bring it into being. It thus depicted, but also brought about, the transformation of Chinese society. Artists sought to create a new national art style, that was both modern and Chinese, drawing on both China’s indigenous art traditions – both folk and elite – and on imported styles and techniques from abroad. This led to much experimentation in aesthetic style, which can be seen in the more than 50 posters on display.
The XJTLU Department of China Studies is pleased to partner with the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre to exhibit the unique collection of Mr Yang Peiming. As China celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party this year, this exhibition offers an opportunity to look back at crucial moments in the party’s history and the role played by art and culture in the rise/development of new China.