Retrospection • Criticism

The 1980s is a period of revolution and genuine creativity in modern China.The Liberation Movement in politics and humanism and the New Enlightenment Movement in culture have become a signature of the spirit of that period.The Modern Art Movement in the art circles of the 1980s is not only a reflection but also a prominent part of the content of this revolution in the visual field. The artists during the '85 New Wave Movement take the initiative to discuss the issue of“how human art can be.” In this historical transformation, the “Northern Artist Group" first appeared, followed by a number of artist groups including the“Nanjing Pond Society", "Xiamen Dada”, and "Yunnan New Concrete Image". The‘85 New Wave Movement includes not only separate activities performed by artists in their individual workshops but also group activities with a very strong sense of action. The arrival of the movement can be regarded as a tipping point in China's contemporary art. It seems that just overnight, many groups of young artist spontaneously emerged at the same time. The movement marks the beginning of the transformation of contemporary Chinese art and culture, a peak of art production, and an important turning point in the history of Chinese art.