By Long Museum West Bund
Long Museum West Bund
Recording art history is recording the history created by individual artists. Therefore, recording art history is inseparable from continual interpretation of the history of how artists create their works. The significance of case studies lies in constructing and presenting the context of art history through them: how various works by various artists under certain social and historical circumstances form a particular evolution lineage and an actual context. In the history of contemporary Chinese art, when exactly was the beginning of "contemporary" art? What was the quality of being contemporary in the history of contemporary art? Instead of a timeline, the key should be individual cases, or works.
In 1979, hanging on the iron bars to the east of the National Art Museum of China were over 150 oil paintings, watercolor paintings, pen and ink paintings, wood engravings, and wood sculptures created by artists including Huang Rui, Wang Keping, Ma Desheng, Qu Leilei, and Zhong Acheng. The display lasted only two days but caused a great sensation.These creations, with their distinct presentations and mixed styles, were all greatly influenced by Western Realism，Naturalism，Impressionism，Fauvism，Abstract Expressionism, and Surrealism. The majority of the exhibits were experimental works of Modernism, drawing many aesthetic thoughts and inspirations from existentialist philosophy, the Theatre of the Absurd, and modern poetry. Re - examining the Stars Group from today's perspective, we are able to review the development of contemporary art and reflect upon the origin and indigenousness of contemporary Chinese art.
Director: Wang Wei
Curator: Wang Huangsheng, Cao Qinghui, Guo Xiaoyan
