This year, the International College had a total of 31 students graduate successfully from various programs at the Undergraduate, Master's and Doctorate levels.  Among them, 21 students were awarded degrees at the Master's and Doctorate levels, while 10 were awarded degrees at the Undergraduate level.

Michael Cavayero, from The United States, New York, in light of his outstanding achievement as a Master's degree graduate, was chosen to represent this year's graduating class of 2015 at The 2015 Graduation Ceremony, where he spoke in fluent Chinese Mandarin addressing the entire occasion. 

Michael Cavayero is a Master's degree graduate of this year's 2015 graduating class.  In 2011, he was awarded a Chinese-American Cultural Exchange Government Scholarship, whereupon he arrived in China at The China Academy of Art to study Chinese 山水 Painting under renowned artist and professor Lin Haizhong. Cavayero's primary area of research is in regard to the ancient tradition of Chan Painting 禅画.  In 2009, Cavayero graduated as a Dean's Scholar from New York University with a BFA in Studio Art. Following this, he traveled to Kyoto, Japan where he studied as a research student at Kyoto-Seika University to gain a deeper understanding of the art and tradition of Japanese Woodblock printmaking and the Ukiyo-e.

LEFT:Michael Cavayero, his farther and Professor Lin HaiZhong

RIGHT:Giving a speech

English Translation of Michael Cavayero's Speech to the Graduating Class of 2015 – 06/20/2015

My respected teachers, fellow classmates; Good evening!

I am a graduate Masters student of Chinese (山水) Painting. My name is 柯伟业. My English name is Michael Cavayero. It is my great honor to speak here today on behalf of the graduating class of 2015. First of all, I would like to thank this outstanding institution with its rich cultural legacy of scholars and artists, the China Academy of Art! This profound place of talent has witnessed my every move for the last four years. Secondly, I would like to thank the Chinese Government and Scholarship Council; for it is they who have made it possible for me to pursue my long cherished dream to come to China and experience for myself this long lasting and profoundly brilliant culture. Finally, I would to express my great gratitude to my teacher, Professor Lin HaiZhong. Under Professor Lin's careful guidance and rigorous demands, I have been able to gain a deep and authentic understanding of traditional Chinese Culture. In addition, this knowledge has enabled me to implement this culture’s consciousness and ancient wisdom into my artwork and life.  Tonight follows the receiving of a diploma. Four years of incredible memories, studying at The China Academy of Art, now come together before our eyes. As I look back on this time and reflect, I become deeply moved and filled by a myriad of thoughts and feelings.

I was born and grew up in the United States, New York. When I was 17, I saw a painting by the Southern Song Dynasty painter Liang Kai, a Chan painting called 《The Sixth Chan Patriarch Cutting Bamboo》. Although it was only a moment, underneath this painting’s ink I could feel a great power that deeply moved me. I can never forget. After this, I made the decision that when the opportunity presented itself, I would devote my life to pursue this form of Eastern art that left me yearning day and night. Afterwards, I graduated from NYU but this long cherished yearning to study this form of painting in China only grew inside of me. After years of on-going correspondence with the China Academy, an opportunity finally came to fruition. Thereupon, in 2011, under a Chinese-American Government Scholarship, I arrived in China, in Hangzhou and became one of the several Master's students of Chinese painting at our academy. In addition, I was lucky enough to also become a student of the teacher Professor Lin HaiZhong.

When I first arrived in Hangzhou, because of my appearance as a Westerner and my early difficulty to speak the language, I faced much rejection and misunderstanding.  Although, I remained extremely positive and determined to try to immerse myself into all of this, feelings of setback and defeat came again and again. So much so that I even began to question my entire reasoning for coming to China. Through all this criticism and misunderstanding, I deeply understood the difficulty of being a foreigner and trying to study traditional Chinese Culture and Art.

In pursuing this path, one must not only face these obstacles and misunderstandings head on and with great courage and will, but one must also remind him/herself of and constantly preserve within him/herself, that 'original self'. For me, that was a glimpse into the painting I saw, which shocked my heart and awakened a kind of pious devotion for Chinese traditional culture within me. This heart, which guides me, is not a kind of false and phony parroting of pretenses; rather it is a resolution I give to myself, a devotion within. The Buddhist Sutras state, "The mind touches nothing, the heart does not breathe, a mind of steal, can reach this path."  Holding this in my hands, I slowly move forward. Every time I pick up a brush and touch the ink to paper, I do it for myself. The Sutras read, "First, clear the mind, find one's inner self; Second, there is no knowing and not-knowing, get rid of this notion and arrive at one’s empty mind; release yourself, your true self; everyone has the ability to break free of illusions around them and realize who they really are. This, one must use."

As I read this, I could not help my admiration for the attitude of the ancient men who wrote this. Following the virtues of this ancient wisdom, this mindset encouraged me; it helped me to maintain a clear headed and focused vision of my path and study.  I could align myself with these ancient men and manifest their greatness within myself.  This is the greatness of all of Chinese culture and thought; it comes from the deepest point in the mind, one’s heart.  Time passes very quickly, in the blink of an eye, four Springs and Autumns have come and gone. Soaking in this landscape of miraculous mountains and beautiful waters and under the influence of this magnificent culture, my heart has never been more at peace and ease. I slowly realize, as an artist, I must return to that original self, that very first moment that moved me. I still remember the first time I picked up a Chinese brush, the first time I used it to paint a mark on Chinese paper, that deep feeling of excitement, I still remember as if it was new. Although in that mark, I couldn't make it to anyone else's level of using the brush and ink to paint, yet in that mark I gave myself a promise. 

All the universe emerges from the heart. All appearances, the world around us, we can change it with our hearts. In painting, we control the brush with our thoughts, our minds, our heart. We make a mark; it is our heart's vestige. A painter paints his heart. All living things in this world, is there anything that doesn't face difficulties, is art not the same? The world is filled with turmoil, the mortal coil, its pretensions, but we must safeguard our hearts as artists. No matter what we are presented with, we must face it with happiness, compassion, resignation, mercy, and we must accomplish the task we have set out to do, even if we only make a little bit of progress, this is the immortal epic of every individual’s life; further, this is life’s constant movement.  

Today, I stand here, and all of my original fears and worries have dissipated. What is here still, is that devoted heart, which I have for Chinese culture. At the same time, I feel a natural unexpected confidence and responsibility to inherit this culture and bring it forward into the world. Now, the time has come and we must work hard together, we must take this beautiful and profound culture and pass it on to future generations and develop it into the future. Four years of my youth, The China Academy of Art witnessed my every change. I am reluctant to part now, further I have only the deepest gratitude for and sense of belonging to this school. Every time I pass my classroom, the days that I am startled by my feelings, I could count them on my hands. It is hard not to make the smell of ink in my nose not last longer, make that first moment of touching the brush, that feeling come alive again.

A pavilion on the ancient road /its mountains and water touch/The setting sun waves its hand/The smell of the grass fills our cup/Whoever arrives here only leaves but this time is ours.

I look to everyone now to remember that first moment when they arrived here, that feeling of passion and excitement…in this moment, we grow together.

To the China Academy of Art, Class of 2015, Congratulations everyone!

Thank you!

by Michael Cavayero

Christelle Herve (PH.D Intermedia Art):

My name is Christelle Herve, I am French. Coming in China was a childhood dream. I wanted to see at the end of the earth, in its continuity, at the end of the field, the fly without ever going over seas. After being finished my art studies in France, I wanted to understand better Chinese Art. Apply for a Ph.D Intermedia art in the China Academy of Art was the opportunity for me to continue my artistic practice and been confronted to a new environment with another direction of reading and comprehension. I always been interested about the cultivated nature in unnatural space. Researching for my Ph.D thesis, I discovered a new face of Chinese culture, Chinese society is rural. The artist Qiu Zhijie helped me to conceptualize my thoughts and write down my vision about Chinese culture. The International College of Art and the China Academy of Art invited me on several occasions to join exhibitions, and support me to show my artworks.

by Christelle Herve

Matthieu (PH.D Intermedia Art):

My name is Matthieu Delourme, I come from France. 

The first time I came in China was in 2007/2008 to study chinese language in International College of China Academy of Art. In same time I discovered the language, I figured out the richness of the Chinese culture. 

After being returned and having finished my art studies in France, I decided to come back again in China to study for this time an art speciality. I applied for a Intermedia Art Ph.D. During this 4 years of studying Intermedia Art, I met some great artists/ professors as Guan Huaibin, Qiu Zhijie and the curator and critic Gao Shiming, who help me to pursue my research project about the « Netcycling ». 

Chinese culture, Chinese schools, Chinese relationships, all is a kind of net and the opportunitie to study in China cademy of Art give you the chance to catch the cord which connect you to the net.

by Matthieu Delourme