The much-anticipated graduation works of the Picture Book Creation Studio are now on display in the Glass Exhibition Hall on the second floor of CAFA Art Museum. Taking books as the carrier, 16 graduates present a rich and wonderful whimsical world to the public through the form of page-turning reading.
Stepping into the exhibition hall is like entering a magical forest: in the pupils of "that cat", you can see the warmth and loneliness in the corners of the city; while the silent dialogue between "the Snowman and the Little Seed" tells the story of exploration and hope for a better life. The cover marked "32nd of the 13th Month" has long broken free from the shackles of time, inviting you to step into a boundless whimsical universe. Do you see yourself in "Meow God"—clumsy yet striving with all your might? When the faint light shines from the "Forest Convenience Store", what meets the eye is the friendliness and mutual help among people. As for those "chattering non-stop" wonderful images, they depict a child's journey from self-enclosure to brave expression and being understood. And the phrase "I lost..." grows quietly in the 留白 (blank space) of loss, sprouting a philosophical inquiry into existence and meaning.
The Cat
by Chen Ziyi
The Cat is created by using cream glue as the base to produce a relief effect, followed by printing, drawing with a ballpoint pen, and scanning. The picture book tells a sad story: a kitten lives happily with a little girl. When the girl passes away suddenly, the kitten is filled with confusion. After a long wait, the kitten eventually dies as well. The ending of this work is open to interpretation: perhaps the kitten and the girl will never meet again, or maybe they continue to live happily together after death.
The Snowman and the Little Seed
by Zhang Chenhao
The snowman feels lost in its unchanging life. One day, a traveling seed bursts into its world. Encouraged and led by the seed, the snowman tries to leave home, journeying alongside the seed to explore the outside world and seek beautiful places. Through their trials and companionship, they make new friends, play together, and face crises. In this process, the snowman relaxes, allowing its strengths to shine. It grows alongside the little seed, heading toward a beautiful and vast world.
The 32nd Day of the 13th Month
by Song Yumeng
Is the last day of the year December 31st? Not at all! In the world of elves, the 13th month signifies the beginning of many fantasies. Now, the Kaka elves will take you on a journey to experience various magical events that occur on the 32nd day of the 13th month! Are you ready to set off? The author has a great affection for fantasy creatures and intends to use the fictional framework of the 13th month to bring elves into reality. Through this picture book, humans can catch a glimpse of the marvelous corners of the world inhabited by other creatures.
Meow God
by Xiang Tianyi
A stray white kitten is misunderstood as the "Meow God" by forest animals and helps many of them. Until one day, a wild goose with a broken wing arrives. No matter what the kitten does, it can't help the goose return to the sky, causing its confidence to collapse instantly. Why does the kitten stop in its tracks as it leaves on a rainy night... People may be forced to pretend to be "omnipotent" due to others' expectations or the desire to be loved, but we are ultimately ordinary. When illusions shatter, we're engulfed by the void of self-worth—and in these moments, we need to return to our essence, acknowledging the clumsy yet earnest efforts we've made.
The Forest Convenience Store
by Yang Boying
A convenience store is opened in a tree hole in the forest. Today, the store is holding a big sale, and customers flock here in droves. While the business is booming, the store is thrown into chaos! Just as the mouse boss is on the verge of breaking down, the warm-hearted customers step in to help one after another...
Non-Stop Chatter
by Deng Fenghong
Due to stuttering, the little boy can never express what he wants to say, and others fail to understand him. He can only use his own ways to express, paint, and paste together his unique "world". Starting from the author's childhood experience of stuttering, the work focuses on the inner world of children whose expression is hindered. Through the form of a picture book, with broken language and emotional images, it depicts a child's journey from self-enclosure to brave expression and being understood, exploring communication and empathy beyond words.
I Lost...
by Su Yuxuan
In the process of growing up, we always lose many things—from something as small as keys, rings, necklaces, hair ties, bicycles... Most of the time, they never reappear. But what if one day they all came back? I wonder what they would look like, and whether they would still be the same as before they were lost... The author herself is someone who often loses things, and after losing them, she can't help but imagine where they might be and what experiences they have gone through. She uses illustrations and words to bring all these fantasies to life!
There are many more works on display in the exhibition hall.
They dance on the boundary between reality and fantasy,
gently questioning life and growth,
and even more, echoing profoundly through absurd humor.
Let's step into this fantastic space together,
shaped by colors and imagination
...
Reservation Channel
2025 CAFA Graduation Season
CAFAM@ 2025
The online reservation and ticketing channel for the 2025 CAFA Graduation Season has been opened. Visitors can make reservations and purchase tickets through the CAFA Art Museum mini-program, WeChat official account, or official website (for ticketing instructions, please refer to the official website). The number of daily visiting slots is limited and will be available until fully booked. During the Graduation Season, the Art Museum will be open as usual on Mondays.
When making a reservation, valid identification documents must be used for real-name registration. Each person can only make one reservation per day. After successful reservation, visitors should arrive at the scheduled time. During the Graduation Season, please enter the museum through the special ticketing channel at the north gate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts by swiping valid identification documents such as an ID card for verification.
Chief Editor / He Yisha
Editor / Du Yinzhu