Learning Party history through artwork

Generations of Chinese artists have recorded the Communist Party of China's development. Their creation forms a mirror of history, reflecting the path the Communist Party has led the people on and highlighting the beauty of faith and human nature, said Sheng Haixiong, head of China Media Group, at a symposium about the television program The Party's History in Art Classics held in Beijing on Monday.

The 100-episode television program, produced by China Media Group, was launched on Jan 25. It showcases 100 art pieces in total, covering different art forms including Chinese paintings, oil paintings, prints, sculptures and comics, and discussing the history, figures and historical events behind the artworks.

Although each episode only lasts 15 minutes, the program makes full use of diversified audio-visual methods such as virtual studio interviews, short story films, art presentations and animations to bring a vivid picture to audiences.

Sheng said the group has launched a series of high-quality programs in recent years, all inspired by President Xi Jinping's important talks on literature and arts. Just as Xi says, "China has no shortage of epic practices, and the key is to have the ambition to create epics."

Party history experts also shared their comments and thoughts on the television program. Zhang Baijia, former vice-director of the Party History Research Center of the CPC Central Committee and an advisor to the program, said "the program tells Party history in an innovative way, using poetry, film, music and animation, to accurately and richly tell Party history."

Fan Di'an, president of China Artists Association and the dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, said: "The program greatly encourages the vast number of artists to create for the history of the Party and the history of the great national rejuvenation."

He described the program as a brand-new space-time art gallery, which meets people's cultural needs for appreciating literary and artistic works, and promotes Party history learning and education. 

Artists who created the program also shared professional ideas at the symposium. The production team said they tried their best to reach the creators of the works and let audiences hear their experiences and life stories from the primary source.

Since the broadcast of the program, the total number of viewers on the media group's network has reached 338 million. The ratings of the program have increased by about 30 percent compared to average programs on the channel.