Why  San  Francisco  Museum  of  Modern  Art  Should  Implement  A  Chinese  Abstract  Art  Exhibi=on  

Zhaochang  He  12/14/2011  

Problems  

• Neglect  and  misunderstanding  of  Chinese  Abstract  Art  

Proposal  

•  Implementa=on  of  a  Chinese  abstract  art  exhibi=on  

Benefits  

•  Benefits  for  SFMOMA,  Bay  Area  people  and  the  art  world  

Agenda

Western  Abstract  Art  

Chinese  Abstract  Art  

The Origin of Chinese Abstract Art Is Misunderstood

Sources:  "Wu  Ming",  form  is  formless:  Chinese  Contemporary  Abstract  Art,  2011  

Western  Abstract  Art  Chinese  Abstract  Art  

Chinese Abstract Art Has Its Own Roots

•  Calligraphy  •  Litera=  Drawing   •  Oil  Pain=ng  

Pablo  Picasso    Les  Demoiselles  d'Avignon    1907      Oil  on  canvas  

Hans  Holbein  the  Younger  The  Ambassadors  1533      Oil  and  tempera  on  oak  

Source:  File:Hans  Holbein  the  Younger  -­‐  The  Ambassadors  -­‐  Google  Art  Project.jpg                                File:Les  Demoiselles  d'Avignon.jpg/wikipedia.com                                Pearl  Lam  Galleries’  documenta=on,  2011      

Western

Zhang  Xu    ZiyanBe  714  AD      Ink  on  rice  paper  

Wang  Dongling    An-­‐Antra  2010        Ink  on  rice  paper  

Chinese

Chinese  21%  

White  56%  

American  Indian  and  

Alaska  Na=ve  7%  

Black  and  African  American  

7%  Other  9%  

San Francisco Has A Large Chinese Population

Resource:  San  Francisco  ACS  Demographic  and  Housing  Es=mates,  2009  

SF  Total  popula=on  by  Race    

Chinese  1%  

Western(American  and  Europe)  81%  

Africa    4%  

South  American  6%   Other  

8%  

But, SFMOMA Displayed Only One Chinese Exhibition in the past 5 Years

Resource:  Exhibi=on  from  2006-­‐2011,  hep://www.sfmoma.org/      

SFMOMA  Exhibi=ons  By  Type  (2006-­‐2011)    

Implement A Chinese Abstract Art Exhibition

Gu  Wenda   Xu  Bing     Wang  Dongling    

Gao  Minglu  Art  Historian  

“Xu  Bing  22,800,000  Results”    -­‐-­‐Google  research  

“Gu  Wen  da,  Known  as  one  of  the  most  avant-­‐garde  and  successful   Chinese   ar=sts   in   the   interna=onal   art  world…”  -­‐-­‐Global  Times  

“like   the   abstract   painter   Wang   Dong   Ling   and   the  conceptual   prankster   Xu   Bing,   who   has   invented   a  ‘square  word  calligraphy’  that  can  be  read  by  an  English-­‐speaking  audience.”    -­‐-­‐New   York   Times,   New   Works   From   China   Command  AGenBon,  March  28,  2007    

www.global=mes.cn,  www.ny=mes.com/keyword/chinese-­‐ar=sts  Google  research,  retrieved  at  12/13/2011  

Their art works represent Chinese culture

Taoism  

Buddhism  

Tradi=onal  Chinese  drawing  technique  

Sources:  "Wu  Ming",  form  is  formless:  Chinese  Contemporary  Abstract  ArtI,  2011  

Their Critical Thinking Responds To Modern World

Sotheby’s  2011  Fall  Auc?on  Sales  

Source:  Sotheby’s  press  release  hep://artmarketmonitor.com/2011/10/07/sothebys-­‐hk-­‐sales-­‐hk3-­‐2b-­‐surpassing-­‐es=mates/  

Chinese Contemporary Art Generates Interests

hep://www.ny=mes.com/2011/11/10/arts/sothebys-­‐contemporary-­‐art-­‐sale-­‐totals-­‐316-­‐million.html  

0  100  200  300  400  500  600  700  800  900  1000  

Hong  Kong   New  York  

Contemporary  Art  Others  

hep://www.sothebys.com/en/auc=ons/2011/contemporary-­‐asian-­‐art-­‐hk0353/overview.html  

USD  Million  

Chinese Abstract Art Gets Broad Attention From The World

Exhibition will expand customer reach

Exhibition will gain support from Chinese

Exhibition Will Complement The Western Abstract Exhibitions

Create Great Impact Among The World

Summary •  Public  misconcep=on  of  the  roots  of  Chinese  Abstract  Art  

•  There  is  only  1  Chinese  art  exhibi=on  in  past  5  years  

Current  Situa=on  

•  Implementa=on  of  a  Chinese  Abstract  Art  exhibi=on  featuring  artworks  from  representa=ve  ar=sts  

Proposal  

• Generate  sales  • Complement  of  western  abstract  art  exhibi=ons  • Diversity,  get  support  from  Chinese,  etc  •  Shaping  the  contemporary  art  world  

Benefits