"Cheering for the Winter Olympics 2022" with Overseas Art Advisor Jiannan Huang

"Cheering for the Olympics" is a program that is sponsored by the International Olympic Committee and China that aims to combine Chinese culture with the Olympic spirit. Artist Jiannan Huang was chosen to be the "Cheering for the Olympics" Overseas Art Advisor for the Winter Olympics 2022 that will be held in Beijing, China. Here is his review of the activities he was involved in over the past year:

The year 2020 was an unusual year, and "Cheering for the Olympics" saw the world going through difficult times, yet it continued to practice the Olympic spirit of not fearing hardship, and to promote the values of excellence, friendship, and respect. We worked hard, and I have actively participated in every event of "Cheering for the Olympics", while sharing the broad sentiment of "Worrying about the worries of the world".

In January 2020, Jiannan Huang was invited to Lausanne, Switzerland, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters are located. Jiannan Huang was there representing Chinese artists to meet with IOC President Thomas Bach at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. At the same time, he also participated in the "China Harmony" and "Mascot Sending Blessings to Light Up 2022", New Year activities, and the Spring Festival with IOC President Thomas Bach and Vice Chairman Yu Zaiqing. He also was busy traveling between China and other countries, helping promote China's art and culture overseas.

Jiannan Huang was interviewed on the activities of "Cheering for the Olympics" on the documentary channel of Beijing TV Winter Olympics. As a featured guest, Jiannan Huang told hundreds of millions of viewers about his life as an artist, his position as overseas art advisor for the Olympics, and about the Olympic spirit that he wants to share with his homeland in China and the rest of the world. He hopes that people will better understand Chinese art, and have stronger cultural knowledge and interest to learn more about art. He also hopes that through the Olympic spirit and "Cheering for the Olympics" activities, that China will be more closely connected with the world.

In March 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic affected the world. Jiannan Huang and the "Cheering for the Olympics" Organizing Committee were very concerned about the epidemic, and worked to hard through all the challenges. The painting, "Awaiting the Gospel", was created by Jiannan Huang, with the purpose of using art and culture to help communicate and inspire people throughout the world.

"Awaiting the Gospel" by Jiannan Huang In June 2020, "Cheers for the Olympics" had an event called Heng Ai Action - A Journey of Beauty. The public welfare activities of the Olympics were officially launched on the campus. Jiannan Huang initiated the "Dream Drawing Action" project and students were guided to explore the humanistic connotation and artistic beauty of the Olympics. After the event, footprints were spread all over the country - from the Olympic city of Zhangjiakou to the ancient city of Hakka Heyuan. Jiannan Huang met with students and inspired them to broaden their horizons and continue to higher education to bring more possibilities for growth.

Authoritative media such as Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, CCTV, Beijing TV, People’s Daily, Guangming Daily and other media reported on the extensive activities of “Cheering for the Olympics” and called for more outstanding artists like Jiannan Huang to be represented. It is hoped that many more people will participate and contribute to the harmonious exchange of world civilization and culture.

In 2021, we look forward to artist Jiannan Huang and "Cheering for the Olympics" organization to bring more exciting news about the upcoming Winter Olympics in 2022.

TV Host Takes Dance Class for Pandemic Exercise Program

San Gabriel, California, USA. 26th January, 2021. TV host Joey Zhou takes a dance class with Rex Li (Li Xinyu), President of "Xinyu Dance & Music Performing Arts Academy" as a part of his 'Pandemic Fitness Program' to help inspire others to get exercise while staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic at the New Universe Entertainment Academy in San Gabriel, California. Joey Zhou started with warm up exercises and was soon learning dance moves for a Mongolian folk dance.

Mr. Li has served as the stage director and choreographer for large-scale performances, including classical, folk, contemporary, and Hakka folk dances. He has also been a judge at the Chinese American Association Dance Competition, an organization that has been working with the overseas Chinese community to pass on the art of Chinese dance.

This was Joey Zhou's first dance class with Mr. Li, and he was able to learn the steps very quickly. Mr. Li has over 100 dance students and teaches students of all ages. Many of his students have won trophies and some are on display at his dance studio. Joey Zhou looks forward to his next dance class as another way to stay in shape during the pandemic.

Guixun Xu - Artist with Integrity, Innovation, and the Heart of a Child

Last year, artist Guixun Xu introduced his "Inkstone Cultivation - 2020 New Painting and Calligraphy Selection". Guixun Xu is a Chinese calligrapher and ink painting artist and this new collection contains over 120 works of both calligraphy and ink paintings. All of the artwork was created by Xu in the year 2020, an extraordinary year. Xu said that one winter afternoon, he walked into his Guixun Xu Painting and Calligraphy Art Studio in Suzhou City, China, and became inspired to create the new collection. His desk and surroundings became covered in art materials and the fragrance of ink filled the room. Xu said that as he worked, he became pleased with his new creations for this collection, "This can be regarded as a special harvest in 2020!"

When asked what it was like creating a collection during this difficult year, Xu said that frankly the past year in 2020 was not so easy. The pandemic brought normal life and order to a halt, but at the same time, it also allowed people to think more about their lives. "These works are not only records, but also a kind of self-motivation," Xu said, "under the pandemic, the mobilization of the whole people, and art workers cannot be ignored." As an art worker, although you cannot go to the front line of the fight against the pandemic like medical staff, you can still use the way of art to condense the immortal spiritual power for the fight against the pandemic through creation. During that time, I stayed at home every day, doing a lot of creation and artwork. Some works felt inspiring to create, others unsatisfactory, so I repeated until I was satisfied.

After hearing about medical supply shortages, Xu wanted to donate the urgently needed medical gloves and masks to hospitals. But he ran across problems as to buy the materials and how to transport them. Xu contacted manufacturers in Suzhou to purchase medical supplies, and when the other party responded that they could not produce the corresponding amount of supplies in a short time, he contacted other manufacturers in other cities in the province. Through repeated communication and communication, Xu solved the material and transportation problems. Xu said that in the end, 50 barrels of disinfectant, 50 barrels of alcohol, and 10,000 pairs of medical gloves arrived at their destination smoothly.

Xu Guixun gave more than 380 calligraphy works of his own meticulous creation to the Suzhou Rescue Medical Team and the doctors on the front line of fighting the pandemic in Suzhou through the Suzhou Volunteer Association. In face, since 2006, Xu has embarked on the road of charity to help others and in that year, provided 120,000 teaching aids to the school in Jinsha, Guizhou. After that, people familiar with Xu knew that he was a enthusiastic and generous person. Since then he has donated to the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the Yushu earthquake in 2010, and the Yancheng tornado in 2018, and every major disaster in China.

"All these experiences are the source of inspiration for my artistic creation!" Xu said. "Living in this great era, as an artist, we have the responsibility and obligation to contribute our strength to the bright future of this country. You must have a heart of innocence, and artists must have the heart a child."

"The art of calligraphy and painting should serve the people. Be kind to others, be respectful and considerate, and persuade others to be kind." On the wall Xu's painting and calligraphy studio, a small calligraphy work "Remembering Kindness" highly reflects his philosophy of being an artist.

The art of calligraphy and painting must serve the people!

Xu believes that painting and calligraphy are works of art conveying truth, goodness and beauty, and conveying upward socialist core values ​​are an important form for art workers to serve and inherit a wide range of traditional culture. He donates calligraphy and painting works to help inherit and popularize the art of calligraphy and painting.

Xu Guixun studied with Professor Chen Dayu in his early years, and then studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, under the tutelage of Professor Wang Yong. His paintings are very few, but his deep thinking and compassion are reflected in them. He took the painting "Pan Er Gui" as an example. In daily life, there are too many such scenes, especially in today's rapid urbanization. The back of the rural left-behind elderly often jumps into his mind. The combination of the real existence of art and the imagination of art space is an excellent alternative to art. "

Art creation must serve the public, and it is the responsibility and mission of contemporary art workers to maintain integrity and innovation. Xu said that the art of calligraphy and painting is the quintessence of the country and the core of Chinese culture, "This art is endless!"