Mural Painting Lights up Jianwai Media Center
2016-11-06

To add to the culture internally and externally and light up the interior of the Jianwai Media Center as well as promote traditional Chinese values, with strong support of the leadership of the BDS and the Corporation, and through common efforts made by the Property Management Department of Jianwai DRC as well as other related departments, the mural painting in the Jianwai Media Center Media Home’s atrium, painted by artists from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CCAFA), was completed on 22 June. The spectacular work of art, 10-meter long and 6-meter wide, is intended to prettify the interior of the Media Home as well as strengthen the Media Center’s “soft power” by presenting a visual delight to the visitors.

The Media Home is located in the north wing of Building 13 of the Jianwai Media Center, with an atrium stretching from the underground level up to Level 2 that is connected by two covered bridges between the southern and northern corridors and decorated with patterns of auspicious clouds, a traditional Chinese motif. The western wall is ornamented with butterflies and the eastern, the mural painting, making the area a focal point and providing a platform for the Media Center to showcase its culture and for customers to appreciate artwork.

Under the guidance of the BDS and the Corporation’s leadership, based on the decoration plan made by the Information and Research Office, and led by the General Office of the Corporation, the Property Management Department of Jianwai DRC, together with the Engineering Department and the Aojie Company, offered full cooperation to the CCAFA artists for implementing the project. Through coordination of Li Shaojun, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Corporation, this Department dispatched staff to accompany the artists to tour the work site for many times, and, after rounds of patient discussion, it was decided that the painting work would be performed on site.

The 10-meter high and 6-meter wide working area is 2 meters above ground where no reliable elevator is available. To ensure safety of the artists and efficiency of their work and avoid  affecting the normal operation of the stores and pedestrians, it was required that a scaffold be erected. The Aojie Company, working together with the Repair and Maintenance Section, came up with a smart and optimal arrangement and completed the scaffold construction before the Spring Festival 2016 successfully. Regular safety inspection of the structure was carried out by house keeping and security staff together with the Media Home receptionist to ensure safety of the area where the painting work was carried out.

Prior to the beginning of the on-site painting work, it was required that the artists should be provided with a temporary home in the DRC. Li Shaojun, together with this Department, worked to offer household supplies to the artists with kind assistance provided by the Supply Center. At the request of the artists, the Aojie Company installed extra lighting equipment to provide ample illumination on the work site. Such strong logistic support ensured the smooth completion of the mural painting work. During the period, HSC leaders visited the site to converse with the artists and boost their morale. With Li Shaojun’s proactive coordination, the mural painting work was nearly finished in mid-June.

The mural painting made its debut on 22 June after month-long efforts. At the unveiling ceremony, Jiang Qi, Deputy Director General of the BDS, Zhang Yue, General Manager of the HSC, as well as other executives of the BDS and the Corporation, were present to view the spectacular and inspiring masterpiece. According to Prof. Ma Jingru from the CCAFA, the towering mountains symbolized BDS’ rock-solid foundation and the flying cranes the soaring business prospect of the HSC. On par with the spectacular artwork in the Great Hall of the People, the sheer size of the work is a rarity in itself. Hearing the title of the work, namely Soaring Cranes over the Mountains and Rivers, Jiang expressed her appreciation for the traditional Chinese theme that served to enormously brighten up the Media Center. Jiang advised that more cultural events would be organized on the venue to promote the Media Center, offer a platform for conducting recreational activities for the DRC tenants and create a better atmosphere for the shop-owners.

At the end of the ceremony, this Department sought the artists’ comments and suggestions on how to produce the plaque and conduct future cultural exchanges. Continued efforts will be made to create a more culture-rich atmosphere and further optimize the Media Home’s interiors to offer a platform of cultural exchanges to more DRC residents and better showcase the Media Center’s values, particularly with strong support from our co-workers of other related departments.