Artistic Director: Chen Wei
Curators: Su Wenxiang, Zhang Aidong
Exhibition Assistants: Sisi Chen, Jessica Wang, Jody Cheung

Acknowledgement:
Shanghai Zendai Delta Property Co., Ltd.
Qintian International Exhibit Logistic Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Jinyou Printing Co., Ltd.

Conversation 10+10

 Conversation and Conversation about Painting

In a remote mountain area near Katmandu, Jean- Francois Revel, the French thinker once held a conversation with his son, Matthieu Ricard who had converted to Buddism. It was a collision between Buddism and Western thinking. The Analects of Confucius, a record of conversations between Confucius and his disciples, has been teaching later generations justice, ethics and learning strategies. The great philosopher Socartes did not write any book during his life. All we have are the conversations he made which were recorded by his disciples Plato and Xenophon. Even though Slavoj Zizek was not in favor of Plato’s conversations, which he thought was affected, he still could not reject conversation altogether. We learnt his point of view through his conversations.

Historical conversations seem to have accompanied the progress of human thoughts. In other words, it is through conversation that people’s ideas become clearer and clearer. This is the goal Conversation 10 + 10 aspires to.  Here, conversation is easy and free; it is not the cautious and precise style that thick biographies usually adopt. Certainly we watch our words when we have political disputes because the kind of conversation happening here precludes grand declarations. We only want to conduct conversations with artists to reveal their true lives as well as their works to the audience.

Moreover, this exhibition has another objective: to allow paintings and non-painting works of art to interact. Note, however, that here we encourage conversation, not dialogue.  Dialogues are likely to lead to vicious competition, but the natural communication like the conversation between the paintings and non-paintings sharing the same space may elicit inspirations mutually.  Like two soul mates trapped in different historical periods, even if they cannot become lovers, they can still call each other friends.

The long and winding history of art brought along numerous -isms. Artists, especially artists nowadays are at the crossroads of various fractions and schools of art. It is especially evident in painting.  Categorization is usually helpful in the study of art, as it creates a connotation for the understanding of art.  Nevertheless, if critics and art historians find joys purely in the labeling of things, then the study of art is merely a monotonous exercise.  Such exercises ignore and deny individual artist’s creative spirit and hard work.  One of the reasons for this phenomenon has is the rise of investment in art. Compared with the other categories of artwork, painting is easier to sell and collect. To some extent market-demand has influenced and regulated painters, and is tempting other artists as well.

However, the above is not our reason for focusing on painting. In fact, we do not just focus on painting only despite the fact that it has already given us much to ponder upon.  Artists are going to keep working with fresh blood continuing joining in. Our true interest and humble wish is to provide opportunities like the conversation mentioned so as to bring about more outstanding works, not only in painting.

Introduction:

The theme of Conversation 10 + 10 is “the multi-dimensional expressions of painting”.  The exhibition includes 20 artists, among which ten present their paintings, while the other ten present works such as installation, video, photography and performance that reflect upon the idea of painting.  On the one hand, non-painting works demonstrate different expressions that enrich and redefine painting as a concept.  On the other hand, the ten painters contemplate the potentials and possibilities within the painting medium, and present innovative visual experiences that are rich in diversity.  Twenty artists working independently in different domains but also interconnected, it is a collective artistic expression at the intersection of different artistic ideals.  This is the essence of “multi-dimensional expressions”.