As part of SALT’s “Guess Who’s Here?” talk series, curator Xiao Liu will address contemporary Chinese art on Wednesday, January 28, at 7:00 pm at the Open Cinema in SALT Beyoğlu. In the talk, Liu will focus on the ’85 New Wave movement, widely regarded as a critical turning point in the development of contemporary art in China.
Contemporary Chinese Art
Liu will examine the historical significance of this movement and its impact over the past four decades on artistic practices, institutional structures, and transnational exchanges. Rather than following trends shaped by the art market, the talk will highlight art practices grounded in local contexts.
The ’85 New Wave movement is recognized as a groundbreaking moment in narratives of contemporary Chinese art, marked by artists’ innovations in concepts and media, the emergence of public exhibitions, and the rise of independent initiatives. While the international visibility of contemporary Chinese art is often interpreted through an external lens, Liu will draw attention to how this relationship also reflects China’s own process of rethinking its history and identity.
Xiao Liu
Xiao Liu is Chair of the Department of Arts Management at the China Academy of Art and serves as an advisor to the partnership between the Shanghai West Bund Art Museum and the Centre Pompidou (Paris). Exhibitions curated by Liu include the 10th Shanghai Biennale, Social Factory; the 2nd Hangzhou Fiber Art Triennial, I Weave, Therefore I Am; and People’s Journey. Liu’s project Vitality of Life seeks to bridge pedagogy and practice in arts management, art education, and curatorial work, re-examining how artists engage with historical experience and social context in their work.
The talk is open to the public and free of charge. The program will be conducted in English. For further information, please visit saltonline.org.
