Asia Art Archive and Para/Site Art Space present a talk with Ai Weiwei and Vito Acconci, two of the most renowned contemporary artists working in the field today.

Meeting for the first time in Hong Kong, the pioneering artists will create a work together and engage in a public dialogue. Ai Weiwei and Vito Acconci both gained early recognition in their respective careers for their daring stunts in the art world. Ai was part of a key movement of avant-garde artists who were active during contemporary art’s beginnings in China, while Acconci was at the forefront of early developments in video and performance art in the US. Artistic labels cannot justify the scope of their experimentation; Acconci’s work has spanned performance, video and installation, and Ai’s career has veered into social politics and activism, while both artists have made significant forays into the field of architecture.

Dissatisfied with traditional boundaries, in art, architecture and social ideology, the artists will discuss their work, share their experiences in fighting against convention, and discuss their recent collaborative project in Hong Kong - which will result in an exhibition at Para/Site Art Space. The talk will be moderated by Para/Site Art Space Executive Director and exhibition curator Alvaro Rodriguez Fominaya, and is organized in collaboration with the Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Following the talk, Para/Site Art Space will present the exhibition Acconci Studio + Ai Weiwei: A Collaborative Project in May. Please check Para/Site Art Space’s website for further details: www.para-site.org.hk.
Onlne Broadcast is available at 6.30-8pm on 12th April 2010 : http://zh-tw.justin.tv/eg9515

Hotel supported by JIA Hong Kong.
Supported by Xantana Wine Society.

DVD documentation of this talk is now available for viewing at the Archive.