New China / New Art

Debutante

Since the making of China’s first video artwork in Hangzhou in 1988, neighbouring metropolises Shanghai and Hangzhou have become major centres for the development of video art in China. Both cities have historically cosmopolitan cultures within which thriving contemporary art communities make innovative use of a range of electronic media. Some of China’s most notable video artists have been trained and have established careers in and between the two cities.

This exhibition showcases a diverse range of video works by the latest generation of artists to emerge from Shanghai and Hangzhou. All of the works involve encounters between internationally established approaches to art-making and local forms of cultural thinking and practice. Some evoke atmospheres of anxiety and unease; others, beauty and meditative stillness. Many also display a wry sense of humour, playfulness and desire to provoke, characteristic of the generation of artists born in China after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976.

The exhibition is complemented by examples of graphic work by artist/designer Pan Jianfeng showing in the Angear Visitor Centre.

Curated for the Djanogly Gallery by Dr. Lynne Howarth-Gladston and Professor Paul Gladston, with Neil Walker (Head of Visual Arts Programming).

Image: Still from Jieyu’s Debutante 2013. Peng Yun

 

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