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Celebrating Metamorphoses: CAA Graduation Season 2025

As 2025 approaches, the vibrant spirit of creativity at the China Academy of Art (CAA) in Hangzhou is reaching new heights. This year’s graduation season, aptly named “Metamorphoses”, promises to be an artistic extravaganza that not only showcases the artistic talents of graduating students but also embodies a rich philosophical concept deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture.

A Revolutionary Cultural Spectacle

The “Metamorphoses” theme draws inspiration from the concept of the seventy-two pentads, symbolizing transformation and the inherent Dao within change. This philosophy posits that metamorphosis leads to endless possibilities while maintaining the original essence. The exhibition reflects a spectrum of creativity, capacity, vision, and above all, spirit.

The official opening of the CAA Graduation Season 2025 took place on May 31, 2025. Hosted across seven prominent venues in Hangzhou, including the CAA campus, Xiangshan, Liangzhu, Nanshan, the Zhejiang Art Museum, the World Tourism Museum, and the Quan Shanshi Art Center, the event unfolds as a grand platform for art lovers, making it accessible to the public. The exhibition showcases the works of 2,971 graduates from various academic disciplines, comprising 1,815 undergraduate students, 1,006 postgraduates, and 150 high school graduates. In total, over 3,000 graduation works exemplifying creativity and innovation are on display.

This year’s opening night featured a thematic performance that integrated a fashion show with artistic presentations, transforming the venue into a fluid, poetic spectacle that captivated all attendees. Yu Xuhong, President of CAA, emphasized the significance of this exhibition, stating, “The graduation exhibition 2025 is a concentrated manifestation of CAA’s disciplinary development and talent cultivation, providing a grand stage for young creatives to present their works to society. More importantly, it is a shared public space for aesthetic education, allowing the collective experience of creation.”

An Immersive Experience

Liu Yihong, the artistic director of the opening ceremony and Vice Dean of the School of Visual Communication, highlighted the unique stage design for this year’s event, which departs from traditional audience-facing formats. Instead, it features an immersive four-sided arena that resonates with the theme of “Metamorphoses.” Four professors from the fashion design faculty, Chen Peng, Wang Shuying, Wu Jie, and Hu Nan, drew inspiration from the metamorphosis concept to present 158 graduate fashion collections that challenge and inspire.

In 2009, CAA became the first art school to publicly present the graduation works of its students from all disciplines, initiating a “Graduation Exhibition Week.” The event aims to recommend outstanding talents to society and establish CAA as an “Unwalled Academy,” integrating internal and external resources.

A Vision for the Future

In light of the limitless cosmos and ever-evolving global landscape, the philosophy of metamorphosis encourages each individual to forge the core of their creative life and embark on their artistic journey. The aspirations of creatives can drive social innovation, thereby allowing them to actively shape the tides of contemporary society. The future of art is sure to flourish within the interplay of divergence and convergence, unleashing infinite possibilities.

The CAA Graduation Season 2025 exhibition will be open to the public until June 20, 2025, inviting everyone to witness the astounding creativity and innovation exhibited by the next generation of artists.