CURRENT EXHIBITION
Body Language: Contemporary Chinese Photography
March 14, 2008—May 18, 2008
“The body is the only direct way through which I know society and society comes to know me. The body is proof of identity. The body is language.” Zhang Huan 1999
In March 2008 the National Gallery of Victoria will present a provocative exhibition of works by seven of China’s most noted photographers. With the world’s spotlight firmly focussed on China as the site of the Olympic Games in 2008, Body Language: Contemporary Chinese Photography will feature large-scaled works which explore how Chinese contemporary photographers engage and use the body in their art. Dr Isobel Crombie, Senior Curator, Photography, NGV, said Chinese photography had undergone a remarkable period of transformation and growth over the last decade. “As modern and traditional life collide in Chinese society, the body has become one of the most immediate, authentic and potent sites for artists to explore,” Dr Crombie said, “Body Language highlights the many ways these artists express their fears and hopes. The exhibition offers a fascinating insight into contemporary life in one of the world’s most dynamic and ancient cultures.” It wasn’t until the mid 1970s that knowledge of Western art movements began to filter into China. Notwithstanding new, more relaxed approaches to creative expression in recent times, the exhibition of experimental art is still a complex matter. By the late 1990s contemporary art practice expanded in China and, as a consequence, Chinese artists have rapidly embraced an experimental approach. Despite the widespread popularity of Chinese art internationally, it is often outside the country that contemporary art produced by Chinese artists flourishes. In the past five years, Western public galleries, collectors and auction houses have responded to the creative energy and inventiveness of contemporary Chinese art resulting in a ‘hot market’.
Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV said photography from China had exploded onto the world stage for good reasons: “Creative experimentation, energetic exploration of issues and visual impact have made contemporary Chinese photography widely appreciated across the world.”
“We have acquired most of the works in Body Language very recently and are thrilled to present them for the first time. The NGV has a strong commitment to collecting for our audiences in Melbourne and Victoria the best of contemporary Asian practice.” Works by artists Chi Peng, Huang Yan, Liu Wei, Sheng Qi, Wang Qingsong, Zhang Huan and Chen Nong will be displayed on the ground floor of NGV International from 14 March until 18 May 2008.
NGV International is open 10am – 5pm, closed Tuesdays. Admission is free. For further information go to: ngv.vic.gov.au
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