Leonardo da Vinci’s recommendation for training young artists still rings true today: “First of all copy drawing by a good master”. For centuries, artists have been trained the language of drawing by making copies from the masters before them. Michelangelo copied Masaccio; Rubens copied da Vinci; Raphael copied the ancient Romans; Manet copied Raphael. They copied … until the day their own imagination, technique and mastership took over. And then, only then they became the next masters.

 

The time for the Chinese decorative artists to master their field has come. Let us free the creative genius of local artists and let them become the next masters in decorative arts! We can do that by promoting respect for intellectual property. And that is why, the theme of the upcoming Cafexpo is: There was a time to copy; this is a time to stop!

 

Starting with the keynote speech, followed up with seminars and one on one advise to exhibitors, the show promoters intend to make the 2009 Cafexpo the launching pad for a new era in decorative arts developed and manufactured in China.