On August 24th, 2012, the exhibition "The Narrative of Guiyang—Urban Parts Contemporary Artists' on the New Long March" hosted by Chengdu MOCA (short for Museum of Contemporary Art Chengdu), co-organized by K11 and Viking Art Promotion opened up at Chengdu MOCA . The exhibition was curated by the vice-manager of Chengdu MOCA Lan Qingwei and exhibited more than sixty paintings and installation works by fourteen artists from Guiyang "Urban Parts". In addition, a related literature research book "Guiyang narrative: the history of the development of contemporary art in Guiyang" was released at the same time. The exhibition specifically invited art historian Lu Peng to serve as the Academic Presider and invited more than ten critics to participate in academic seminars, like Chen Mo, Guan Yuda, He Guiyan, Wang Lin, Wang Xiaojian, Wu Hong and so on. On the opening day, organizers especially arranged a salon for Chengdu's viewers to meet with artists, so the audience could enjoy the works, they also had the opportunity to communicate with artists face-to-face and found out the deep meaning behind works. This exhibition was the second group exhibition of artists since the opening of Chengdu MOCA, the first floor showcased the latest works of artists in the "Urban Parts" and the second floor displayed the literature of Guiyang contemporary art development from 1978 in chronological order. By offering a presentation that combined works and literature, it is easier for us to understand the basic style and features of Guiyang contemporary art in the context of contemporary art history. The exhibition will continue until September 9th, 2012.
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"Urban Parts" is a contemporary art community of GuiYang, which stations a group of contemporary artists with art ideals. The name "Urban Parts" was taken from a special photographic exhibition curated by artist Dong Zhong in the Guiyang Biennale of 2003. In 2006, Dong Zhong found a vacant old building at the foot of Xiangbao Hill, which later became the first stronghold of "City parts". Thereafter Xia Yan, Shi Pi, Gu Xu, Xiong He, Wang Rongzhi, Ding Kai, Tang Peijun and other artists moved in succession. Currently, the art district gradually expanded into an art village, which has attracted about thirty artists. In recent years, the artists of the art village usually show the artworks collectively entitled as a group of "Urban Parts".
The works of the 14 artists vary in style and subject matter. The imaginary worlds of different painters offer a special presentation of different incidental mental activities - fragile, panic, confused, anxious, lonely, longing, they provide an emotional narrative without consultation, a narrative that other places don't have. This narrative is not just on personal experience, but also an experience we care about, which allows us to know about the existence of difference and the "difference" itself is a prerequisite for survival in the context of globalization. The artists of "The Narrative of GuiYang" live in an old city under change, their environments and experiences are obviously different from those cities like Beijing and Shanghai, however, it is such difference that have given their paintings special geographical characteristics. When they face works, the artists of the "Urban Parts" respect their feelings, provide different descriptions and symbols respectively which offer us a special aesthetic experience.
Concerning, displaying, researching and collecting the most active works of contemporary art have always been the basic idea of Chengdu MOCA. The artists from Guiyang "Urban Parts" have injected new vitality into contemporary art with their works.
About the exhibition
City: Chengdu
Curator: Lan Qingwei
Academic Presider: Lu Peng
Duration: 2012-08-24 ~ 2012-09-09
Opening: 15:00 p.m.24th August, 2012
Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Chengdu
Participating Artist(s): Chen Qiji (Yao Ge), Ding Kai, Dong Zhong, Gong Lei, Gu Xu, Li Jianfeng, Pan Hongyan, Shi Pi, Wang Rongzhi, Xia Yan, Xiong He, Yang Wuming , Zhang Ruoyun, Zhang Xinglong
Special Invitation Critics: Chen Mo, Guan Yuda, He Guiyan, Wang Lin, Wang Xiaojian, Wang Yalei , Wu Hong, Xuan Hongyu, Zhang Jianjian, Zheng Na
