Bingyi, Can the Eyes Sing? The Bodies of the Sacred Mountains, 2021, Ink on paper.
Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions
Date: 10 February - 2 July 2023
Venue: Asia Society Texas Center, Houston, Texas, US
Curated by Susan L. Beningson, Ph.D.
Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions highlights works by over 30 contemporary artists of Chinese descent who reinterpret traditions in dynamic and innovative ways. Across painting, sculpture, and photography, these works were created by both established and emerging artists of different generations who use experimentation to draw on both Eastern and Western art-making practices and materials. They push boundaries that manipulate traditional materials and develop unique fabrication processes.
The artworks focus on experimental ink painting, calligraphy, deconstructed language, landscapes (real and imaginary), cityscapes, and celestial patterns. Landscapes borrow from time-honored imagery, but the artists in this exhibition subvert their visual language and meaning. They respond to our present-day concerns about urbanization, the fragmentation of landscapes created by the degradation of the environment, and the rapid pace of China’s modernization, among other urgent issues. Ultimately, these artists summon memories of the past to move beyond its specter, forging new artistic ground on which to build.
Symposium: 'Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions'
Friday, May 19, 2023
9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Beginning with a guided gallery tour, guest curator Dr. Susan L. Beningson will lead a series of conversations with featured artists, including Bingyi, Cui Fei, Kelly Wang, Zheng Chongbin, and others, and joined by leading curators such as Dr. Hiromi Kinoshita (Philadelphia Museum of Art) and Dr. Zoe Kwok (Princeton University Museum of Art). Throughout this day of discussion, explore the breadth and depth of cultural, historical, and artistic themes on view in the exhibition as we rethink and reimagine the histories, traditions, and artistic practices of artists of Chinese and Chinese American descent.
This event is free and open to the public; registration required.
More informations:
Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions
'Summoning Memories: Art Beyond Chinese Traditions' Themes
