-- Preface

The development of modern Chinese printing from an engraved or etched plate manifested a tendency of diversification at the beginning of the 90s. While challenging traditional concepts, works of art in this period started to foster modernization idea, stress features of trace and plurality, attach importance to individuality embodiment, keep aloof from ordinary life, weaken the significance of theme, and put forth efforts on rational circumstances. From the mid-90s onwards, the creation of printing from an engraved or etched plate has appeared more diversified and more particular about purity of artistic language in engraving. Engraving creation in academies of fine arts took the lead in stepping forward steadily in the diversification of engraving language. In the recent five years, works by undergraduates and graduate students majoring in engraving have demonstrated full vitality, characterized by a combination of contingency and randomness, symbolization of images, intense and pure sense of off-balance, pursuit of features and workability of engraving material, and a trend towards exploration in consummate skills and richness of material. In short, the works in this period give full expression to young students' rational thinking over the drastic cultural and social changes.

Wu Changjiang, Director of Engraving Faculty, Central Academy of Fine Arts