DOHA: What About the Art? Contemporary Art from China, which is a major highlight of Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, opened yesterday at the Qatar Museums (QM) Gallery Al Riwaq.
Curated by the internationally acclaimed New York based Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang, the exhibition presented by QM features works by 15 contemporary Chinese artists.
The artists include Jenova Chen, Hu Xiangqian, Hu Zhijun, Huang Yong Ping, Li Liao, Lian Shaoji, Liu Wei, Liu Xiaodong, Jennifer Wen Ma, Sun Yuan, Peng Yu, Wang Jianwei, Xu Bing, Xu Zhen, Yang Fudong and Zhou Chunya.
Cai Guo-Qiang has spent three years to the curatorial research and development of the exhibition which presents a diverse mix of artworks including painting, sculpture, installation, video, performance and interactive video game design.
The curator hopes to provide visitors with a powerful and immersive experience, and through a shared appreciation of art, establish a stronger relationship between Qatar and China.
“The exhibition is intended to inspire and resonate with young Arab artists who are pursuing creativity and reflecting on their own contribution to global culture.
“At a time when major exhibitions and biennials are focused on popular topics such as the environment, violent conflict, or on textual analysis of the artists’ cultural identities and the external context of the works, there continues to be a lack of direct inquiry into the art and artists’ practices themselves.
“The exhibition raises this question to the contemporary art world,” Cai said.
This exhibition is supported by the China National Arts Fund, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture, Artron Art Group, and Beijing Imaginist Time Culture Company.
Mohammed Al Othman, Public and International Relations Director at Qatar Museums said: “By bringing the works of 15 of the most significant contemporary Chinese artists to Doha, we are continuing to deliver our promise at Qatar Museums to inspire, educate and excite the local community about the role and value of contemporary art from around the world and encourage an indigenous culture of creativity, innovation and participation in Qatar.
“We hope that this exhibition helps to not only build bridges between cultures, but also show that Qatar is open to the world and promote improved intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the two historic cultures of China and Qatar.”
Sefa Saglam, Chief Museums Officer at Qatar Museums, added,
“The scale and ambition of What About the Art? is a clear indication of the world class quality of exhibitions organized by Qatar Museums to educate local audiences about international art. Showcasing works of art from some of China’s most significant contemporary artists helps not only to bridge cultures, but also to show that Qatar is a truly significant arts and cultural hub.”
The exhibition is open to the public until July 16.
The Peninsula
