In 1993, ten contemporary Chinese artists debuted at the 45th Venice Biennale. The reception was lukewarm: people wanted to know if and when the Chinese avant-garde would cut through certain quaint notions of oriental mystique and evolve a distinct identity. Today, contemporary Chinese art is everywhere, and the innovations of the artists in this volume are now recognised as primary catalysts for the contemporary scene. Nine Lives: The Birth of Avant-Garde Art in New China, first published in 2005 focuses on the stories of nine individuals who set it all in motion—Wang Guangyi, Geng Jianyi, Fang Lijun, Gu Dexin, Li Shan, Zhang Xiaogang, Xu Bing, Zhang Peili and Wang Jianwei. This fully updated edition chronicles the artists in their youth, as students at State-run painting institutes and, latterly, in their largely expansive studios. Beyond the images for which they all became famous, Smith presents early work fundamental to their development that has since been lost or destroyed.

Preface by Marianne Brouwer. Includes timeline and glossary of socio-political terms.

Access level

Onsite

author
Location code
REF.SMK
Language

English

Publication/Creation date

2008

No of pages

472

ISBN / ISSN

9789881714336

No of copies

2

Content type

monograph

Chapter headings

Introduction: History and Context

Section 1 Embrace!: Prevailing Ideologies, New Philosophies

Wang Guangyi: From Mao to Now

Geng Jianyi: Trust Only He Who Doubts

Fang Lijun: Swim or Sink

Section 2 Appropriate!: Alternative Lifestyles and Taboos

Gu Dexin: 1962.02.27

Zhang Xiaogang: In the Genes

Section 3 Conquer!: New Ground and Technology

Xu Bing: In a Word

Zhang Peili: Candid Video

Wang Jianwei: Does Grey Matter?

Nine Lives: The Birth of Avant-Garde Art in New China - The Updated Edition
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Nine Lives: The Birth of Avant-Garde Art in New China - The Updated Edition