The Centre Pompidou gives visibility to A New Generation of Chinese Artists

Author : Lucille Enel
Published on : October 16, 2024 | Last modified on : November 6th, 2024 at 11:12 am

The Centre Pompidou presents for the first time a collective exhibition which highlights Emerging Chinese Artists. After Louis Vuitton Foundation in 2016, this is the second time that a French Institution dedicates a group exhibition to the Chinese Art Scene. The exhibition titled 目 China A New Generation of Chinese Artists, showcases 21 artists born from the late 1970s to the early 1990s offering a unique, subjective view of modern China. The works reflect on China’s opening to the world, environmental shifts, and rapid lifestyle transformations, created by artists born during China’s economic boom.

A partnership between the Centre Pompidou and The West Bund Museum

Under the theme of the character 目 (mù), meaning “eye”, with reference both to vision and the eye’s capacity to organise reality, the exhibition spans video, painting, sculpture, installations, photography, and new media, spotlighting recent creations that have had limited exposure abroad due to the pandemic. This opportunity builds on connections fostered by the Centre Pompidou × West Bund Museum Project in Shanghai, a partnership between the Centre Pompidou and the West Bund Museum in Shanghai initiated in 2019 and renewed in 2024.

The exhibition’s key themes include China’s global interactions, reflections on globalization, and environmental crises. Artists also address sweeping social changes in expanding urban landscapes, balancing cultural heritage with contemporary life. New media, a rapidly evolving field in China’s digital age, occupies a significant space, capturing the country’s dynamic shift into the digital world.

Qiu Xiaofei Potted Plant in the Forest 2022

New donation to the Centre Pompidou thanks to Chanel

The exhibition also celebrates the Centre Pompidou’s recent acquisition of 15 works by artists such as Alice Chen, Chen Wei, Cui Jie, Hu Xiaoyuan, and Lu Yang. These pieces, now part of the museum’s permanent collection, showcase the perspectives of a generation shaped by China’s transformation into an economic powerhouse.

The acquisition and the exhibition were supported largely by Chanel, known for its longstanding commitment to Sino-French cultural exchange, the exhibition and acquisitions mark a significant step in promoting young Chinese artists globally. Chanel’s ongoing partnership with the Centre Pompidou and a recent collaboration with Shanghai’s Power Station of Art exemplify its dedication to preserving and expanding access to Chinese contemporary art. As Yana Peel, Chanel’s Global Head of Arts and Culture, noted, this initiative celebrates creativity in China and brings it to diverse audiences in Paris and beyond.

With Hao Liang in front of Paitings of Ganyu Poetry — With Hao Liang in front of Paintings of Ganyu Poetry

Chinese Artists exhibited: Aaajiao, Alice Chen, Chen Fei, Chen Wei, Chu Yun, Cui Jie, Hao Liang, Hu Xiaoyuan, Li Ming, Liu Chuang, Lu Pingyuan, Lu Yang, Miao Ying, Na Buqi, Qiu Xiaofei, Shen Xin, Sun Xun, Wan Yang, Yao Qingmei, Yu Ji and Zhang Ding.

Exhibition Curators: Philippe Bettinelli, Paul Frèches, Youyou Gu

The exhibition is on view until February, 3rd, 2025.

The exhibition catalogue is available online.