On the morning of January 8th , the launch ceremony for the art book “Seeing” was held in the exhibition hall on the first floor of the library at our school’s Haidian campus. Representatives from various sectors attended the event, including Zhou Zhijun, Secretary of the Party Committee of our school; Zhi Hongwei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Pan Ruojian, Vice President; Ji Zhiwei, former Secretary of the Party Committee; Sun Lijun, creator of the art book and former Vice President of our school; Tian Liping, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China International Broadcasting Press; Xiao Yang, Chief Editor; Xu Tao, President of the China Cartoon Research Association; leaders from various departments and functional units of the school; and representatives of faculty and students. The launch ceremony was hosted by Chen Qingsong, Director of the Library of Beijing Film Academy.
At the beginning of the event, Secretary Ji Zhiwei spoke first. He fondly recalled his decades-long friendship with Professor Sun Lijun, witnessing his journey from a young teacher to a leading figure in the field of animation education in China. He pointed out that Professor Sun Lijun’s qualities of diligence, determination, enthusiasm, and sincerity are fully reflected in his new work, “Seeing.” He stated that this album, as a work of plein air art, is not only a depiction of the objective world but also a product of the fusion of reality and inner feelings. Finally, he wished Professor Sun Lijun continued success in his artistic career and even greater contributions to the development of the school.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief Tian Liping shared the opportunity for collaboration with Professor Sun Lijun from a publishing perspective and elaborated on his understanding of the “Seeing” art book. He stated that as a publishing institution long committed to cultural dissemination, the core reason for partnering with Professor Sun to launch the “Seeing” art book was being moved by the work’s creative concept of “recording the times with art.” He mentioned that this art book embodies the creator’s accumulated experience and reflections on the times, while also possessing both academic and artistic merit. Its publication will build a bridge for readers to experience the charm of art and gain insight into the essence of life.
In his speech, President Xu Tao affirmed Professor Sun Lijun’s profound contributions to the fields of animation and comics. He pointed out that Professor Sun Lijun is not only an outstanding artist but also an excellent educator, having created numerous outstanding works that combine intellectual depth, artistic merit, and visual appeal. He believes that the “Seeing” album, with its unique visual language, presents the creator’s diverse reflections on society, culture, and art. The creative techniques and aesthetic pursuits it embodies offer important insights for the innovative development of China’s comics and animation industry, and also highlight the academic leadership of the Beijing Film Academy.
Huang Yong, Vice Dean of the School of Animation at our university, spoke from the perspective of discipline development. He stated that the establishment and development of the Animation School of Beijing Film Academy is inseparable from Professor Sun Lijun. As one of the founders of the school, Professor Sun Lijun has always adhered to the creative orientation of “art for the people.” He specifically mentioned that the perseverance of “Kuafu chasing the sun” and the profound insight embodied in the poster design for this event are a reflection of Professor Sun Lijun’s artistic spirit. In the future, the School of Animation will be led by Professor Sun Lijun, working together to strive for greater progress in education, teaching, and talent cultivation.
Amidst the anticipation of all the guests, Professor Sun Lijun, the creator of the “Seeing” art book, shared his creative journey. As a leading figure in Chinese animation art, he drew upon his over forty years of artistic creation and education experience to passionately recount the initial inspiration behind this art book. Professor Sun explained that “Seeing” is a collection of impromptu paintings, not only embodying his painstaking sketching journeys across the country, but also a record of his dialogue with the world and with himself—conveying not only the scenery of a place, but also his state of mind while in that environment, hoping that everyone can retain the ability to “see” beauty. He specifically mentioned that this field trip was also a public welfare activity, helping many people in need encountered during the creative process. He emphasized that artistic creation must be rooted in life and close to the people, encouraging teachers and students to be down-to-earth and practice the “three peoples” artistic vision. Finally, he expressed his hope that the development of the Film Academy would not be separated from the joint efforts of everyone present, and that everyone would work together towards a brighter future.
In her concluding remarks, Party Secretary Zhou Zhijun extended her warmest congratulations on the publication of the “Seeing” album. She frankly admitted that she was deeply moved by the guests’ sharing and affectionately summarized Professor Sun Lijun in her eyes with four keywords: perseverance, integrity, vitality, and vision. She pointed out that Professor Sun Lijun, as an outstanding representative of the school’s teachers, has dedicated himself to the front lines of art education, management, and creation for decades, always upholding his artistic ideals and educational aspirations. His “Seeing” album is a vivid embodiment of the “Beijing Film Academy Spirit” and an important achievement in the school’s cultural development. She emphasized that, standing at a new historical starting point, the Beijing Film Academy is striving to achieve its goal of becoming a “Double First-Class” university, in line with the school’s “15th Five-Year Plan.” She hoped that teachers and students would integrate their own growth with the school’s development, achieving better versions of themselves while serving the school’s construction, dedicating more excellent works to the people, and contributing the strength of the Beijing Film Academy to building a strong film nation and a strong cultural nation.
Following the speeches, the event proceeded to a book donation ceremony. Professor Sun Lijun solemnly donated his art album “Seeing” to our university library, and Secretary Zhou Zhijun accepted the donation on behalf of the university and presented a donation certificate. This donation not only enriched the unique collection of our university library but also provided faculty and students with a valuable opportunity to closely examine masterpieces of art.
The launch ceremony of the “Seeing” picture album was jointly hosted by our school library and China International Broadcasting Press. The successful event built a platform for exchange and cooperation between the film and television art industry and the publishing industry, demonstrated our school’s responsibility and commitment to promoting cultural prosperity and development, and injected new vitality into our school’s cultural construction and talent cultivation.
“Seeing” is a visual journal that integrates improvisation, travelogue, and humanistic reflection. It mainly includes Professor Sun Lijun ‘s impromptu hand-drawn works from his travels across China in 2024. Most of these creations were born during his jogging and field trips. The author uses simple black and white lines to outline natural scenery, cultural landscapes, and fragments of life, embodying a deep reflection on the essence of “ seeing “ —breaking free from the constraints of technology, returning to the most direct and authentic visual perception, and capturing fleeting moments that are difficult for a camera to capture. With its sincere brushstrokes, keen insights, and profound sense of public service, this book builds a warm and solid bridge between the art world and the general public.
Written by: Zhang Jiaxin
Photo: Li Yuanjian, Zhang Nan
Reviewed by: Chen Qingsong and Shen Juan
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