Latest News:  

English>>Life & Culture

Sparks of youth

By Chen Nan (China Daily)

10:20, January 28, 2013

Chen Wei's photographs possess an irresistible sense of closeness.

Key Words:Art; artists

Related Reading:
>>Promising Chinese artists[Special]

There are many promising artists in China, but an ongoing exhibition in Beijing aims to show audiences "who represents the real young artists". Chen Nan takes a closer look.

You have to see it to believe it.

That's the aim of an ongoing exhibition, On | Off: China's Young Artists in Concept and Practice.

"We've seen many exhibitions and related events on contemporary China's young artists and their works. But we believe that words, themes or symbols are not enough to reflect the young generation of Chinese artists today," says 34-year-old Bao Dong, one of the curators of the exhibition at Beijing's Ullens Center for Contemporary Art.

"We are here to show what we feel represents the real Chinese young artists," he says.

The show displays works by promising and some unknown post-1976 artists who grew up after China's economic reform and opening up.

Together with another curator, Sun Dongdong, Bao traveled around the country for more than six months to search for the artists.

They visited more than 200 artists in cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou of Zhejiang province, Guangzhou of Guangdong province and Chongqing, before selecting what they felt were the best.

Featuring 50 commissioned works by 50 artists and artist groups, the exhibition is considered an ambitious survey of works by these young talents.

As the curators put it, these artists have "grown up in a society and culture beset by binaries, constantly toggling between extremes".

The exhibition is rooted in a series of such tensions that intensified around 1999, just as the Internet was becoming part of everyday life.

"Young artists in China are labeled as being rebellious, nonsensical and cynical. But they are just like any other young people.

"Their artworks reflect their thinking about their lives. We want an exhibition that triggers communication and understanding," says Sun, who was a senior editor of Leap, a bilingual magazine of contemporary art in China.

According to the curators, they didn't display the works of artists they know very well or those introduced by others. Instead, they decided to go on a field trip to search for them.

With the support and help of Philip Tinari, the director of UCCA, they set out and brought back surprises.

One of the artists is Wen Ling, whose pen-on-paper comics - One Day in My Life - is displayed in the long, high-ceilinged UCCA nave.

The 37-year-old studied woodcut prints at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and now lives and works in Beijing.


【1】 【2】



We recommend:

Beijing is in silver and white

Girlhood photos of Chinese stars revealed

A trip to sunshine sanctuary in Beihai

How sweet! Stunning pure ad girls

China's largest 'capsule hotel' opens in Qingdao

La Perla Spring Summer 2013 Lingerises

A young artist's life with wolf cub

Banquets at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan marries

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:高奕楠、叶欣)

Related Reading

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. PLA air force conducts air raid drill in S. China

  2. Y-20 gives air power a push

  3. 2013 Ilopango Air Show kicks off

  4. In photos: Instant noodle & Spring Festival travel

  5. Shanghai takes a bite of Diaoyu Islands

  6. People on way home during Spring Festival

  7. Li Na faces falls, defeat light-heartedly

  8. Chinese prepares for Spring Festival

  9. Eateries think small to fight food waste

  10. Chief's self-styled approach pays off

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Egyptians' rallies reflect growing political awareness
  2. Princess's unique perspective for cultural integration
  3. Who is to blame for death of 38 hostages in Algeria?
  4. US needs to rethink rebalancing
  5. Chinese consumption grossly underestimated
  6. Western debt addiction poisonous to world
  7. Only dialogue can melt ice between China, Japan
  8. Teacher says 'left-behind' children need respect
  9. Scientist wants food waste criminalized
  10. Japan's policies helpless to economic resurgence

What’s happening in China

China's weekly story (2013.01.21-01.27)

  1. Children toy with new forms of leisure
  2. Migrant workers honored for rescue work
  3. Sansha taking shape with projects
  4. Foggy weather to afflict central, eastern China
  5. Chinese transport strengthened for travel rush