Socially Engaged Art in China: Curators, Exhibitions, and the Changing Conditions of Art Communities

What role does socially engaged art play in China today? In this upcoming webinar, Professor Meiqin Wang from California State University, Northridge, joins Professor Marcin Jacoby from SWPS University to talk about Chinese curators and artists who take on important social topics, often in the face of numerous challenges. The discussion will also explore the evolving dynamics of art communities across Chinese cities.

Between Creativity and Control: Art in Today’s China
Exhibitions presenting socially engaged art in today’s China have become increasingly rare. Both artists and galleries often practice self-censorship to avoid attracting unwanted attention from the authorities. Additionally, with less funding available in the art market compared to the pre-COVID-19 era, it is not easy to make budgets meet. And yet, there are not only artists but also curators who continue to take on this challenge, contributing to the ongoing discourse on issues important to Chinese society.

In this webinar, we are joined by Professor Meiqin Wang of California State University, Northridge, a renowned expert in the field. Together, we will discuss the work of several Chinese art curators particularly interested in socially relevant topics. The second focus of the session will be the changing conditions of art communities in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Sanya.

This webinar is part of the EU-funded research project China Horizons.