REFLECTIVE ASIA - 3RD NANJING TRIENNIAL

Date：Sep 10, 2008 - Nov 10, 2008

Venue(s)：Nanjing Museum (Nanjing, China)

Curator(s)：Huang Du, Jaeyoung Kang, Li Zhenhua, Fumihiko Sumitomo

Artist(s)：3P=3players, Maebayashi Akitsugu, Bai Yiluo, Nicholas Bonner, Cao Kai, Chen Wenling, Chen Fei + Luo Hui, Chen Zhuo + Huang Keyi, Cong Lingqi, Contact Gonzo, Leslie De Chavez, Du Zhenjun, Fang Lijun, Yamakawa Fuyuki, Gao Xiaowu, FX Harsono, He Sen, Huang Kui, Joonho Jeon, Jiang Zhi, Jiao Xingtao, Jin Jiangbo, Reena S. Kallat, Hachiya Kazuhiko, Sasaguchi Kazz, Kim Kira, Donghee Koo, Sakarin Krue-on, Tallur L.N., Yongbaek Lee, Li Jikai, Li Qing, Liang Shaoji, Liu Jianhua, Liu Liyun, Luo Zhenhong, Luo Quanmu, Koizumi Meiro, Kyungwon Moon, Hyungmin Moon, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, Ni Haifeng, Hwayoung Park, Peng Hung-Chih, Haris Purnomo, Qin Yufen, Qin Qi, Navin Rawanchaikul, Peter Regli, Shen Shaomin, Shi Jing, Shi Yong, Meekyoung Shin, Sui Jianguo, Sun Jianchun, Wang Yuyang, Wang Luyan, Wang Guofeng, Wang Yaqiang, Xiang Liqing, Xijing Men, Yang Mian, Yang Qian, Yang Fudong, Yin Zhaoyang, Yue Minjun, Teruya Yuken, Zhang Xiaotao, Zheng Yunhan, Zhu Jinshi, Kijong Zin, Ito Zon

Organizer(s)：Nanjing Museum (Nanjing, China) Publicity Department, Nanjing Committee of Communist Party of China (Nanjing, China)

Co-organizers RCM Art Museum (Nanjing, China) Swiss Arts Council Prohelvetia (China)

 

About Reflective Asia - 3rd Nanjing Triennial

 

1 The Theme

 

The 3rd Nanjing Triennial 2008, themed as Reflective Asia, not only means directions and positions literally, also reflects an imagination of Asia Community, that is, city fantasy, society criticism, value negotiation, daily attention, religions and customs, tradition and modernity, reality and fiction. Reflective Asia is a redefinition and reinterpretation to diversified Asian cultures from a brand-new respect. Reflective Asia not only continuously explores new positions of Asia within international language situation, also pinpoints the new coordinate of subjectivity from different countries in the dynamical Asia. The amazingly artistic progress of China and India pushes Asian Position forward. Reflective Asia is also a consideration and analysis about development process of Asian modernity and status quo of Asian contemporary art, reflecting the potentiality and vitality of Asian development, and representing imagination and innovation of Asian artists. Asia is a geography conception, but in multiple world structure, also a conception of geopolitics. In contemporary art field, Asia is a multiple space with complexity, involving different nations, traditions, religions, customs and modern opportunities. Contemporary art in Asian countries have their own developing trace apparently differing from each other. They embodied identity and difference, tradition and modernity, rejection and compatibility, complexity within or without Asia, richness and diversity.

 

The 3rd Nanjing Triennial firstly take Asia as the object and theme, trying to discover and establish an imaginary space and dialogue platform surpassing the political structure of nation states within Asia. Basing on this point, The 3rd Nanjing Triennial raised the following propositions of contemporary cultures and aesthetics through exploring different view points, imaginations and innovations of artists from different countries.

 

“Daily and Beyond experience”

 

“Amplification and Percolation”

 

“Heterotopias and Bewilderment”

 

“Fiction and Probe”

 

Accordingly, the 3rd Nanjing Triennia tries to explore Asian contemporary art which allows differences co-exist, from such a unique angle. If we say arts is an ideal form of culture, it will be of great significance that we try to explain and construct the dialogue, negotiation and exchange within Asia by means of art imagination.

 

2 Linguistic Environments

 

The Triennial of Chinese Arts, which is changed to Nanjing Triennial, was founded in 2002, focusing, encouraging and promoting Chinese Contemporary Art. The curatorial team adhered to independent judgement and thinking, in order to precisely seize the new orientation of Chinese Contemporary Art. The 1st Triennial of Chinese Arts (Guangzhou Art Museum 2002) , organized by artistic critic Peng De and Li Xiaoshan, representing the creative trend of Chinese Contemporary Art. In 2005, the 2nd Triennial of Chinese Arts (Nanjing Museum 2005) organized by Qiu Zhijie, Zuo Jing and Zhu Tong, took the theme as Archaeology of The Future. We mainly choose young artists born after 1968, producing the multimedia and trans-media experimental art. In 2008, Triennial of Chinese Arts shifts its view point to the whole Asian art, that is the reason why Triennial of Chinese Arts changed to Nanjing Triennial. As is known to all, Nanjing is an ancient city which had been capitals of six dynasties in Chinese history, which had undergone the frequent supersessions of regime, disastrous wars and cultural developments. Nanjing Museum will still be the main venue for this triennial, whose total area is about 10,000 square meters indoors and outdoors. It surely can bring visitors the most energetic, dynamic and innovative Asia arts. We will invite Asian artists to Nanjing so that they can experience daily life in this city, and then commence their artwork production and presentation according to the linguistic environment and exhibition space in Nanjing.

 

This Nanjing Triennial will establish a platform for Asian Contemporary Art, setting Nanjing as the starting line of Chinese Contemporary Art to promote the dialogues and communications on Contemporary Art of Asia or even the whole world. Nanjing Triennial certainly can find its own position within Asia and make a contribution to International Contemporary Art through its sustainable effort and development.