Chengdu prepares to host modern art fair next year
But there are few avenues for young art l overs who want to learn more about contemporary Sichuan province’s capital, art. Chengdu, will hold its first interThat’s why he and his partner, national contemporary art fair, Huang Zai, decided to stage an art Art Chengdu, in April. fair to offer a platform to show
It’s organized by a group of Chicontemporary works from around nese in their 30s. the world.
The fair from April 28 to May 2 Huang Zai explains that they will be the first of its kind in southHuang Yu is regarded by media finance and property sectors durhope that works will be affordable western China, where a large as a typical young Chinese collecing his show last year. for people who are just developing number of collectors and artists tor born in the 1980s. “They buy a lot of contemporary interest in contemporary art. She live. The 36-year-old was awarded art and always fly to Hong Kong says they also hope to see big
About 30 galleries will be invitCollector of the Year 2016 by Chifor purchases,” he says, adding names on show. ed to attend, including 10 from nese art magazine HiArt, along that the number of young collec“The locals spend about 15 biloutside China. with Liu Yiqian, who offered a tors in China is increasing. lion yuan on eating hotpot every
“The size of Art Chengdu will be record price of $170 million for Many are from Chengdu, a city year. I think they can buy art,” says small (at first), but we hope it will Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani’s that is also home to many accomShi Zheng, art director of the art attract young collectors and art fair.oilpaintingin2015.plishedcontemporaryartists. lovers,” says Huang Zai, “My friends and I hope we have Huang Yu’s own collection has Her confidence in local conco-founder of the fair. the chance to buy good art in our many works by artists from the sumption comes largely f rom
A Chengdu native, Huang says hometown,” says Huang Yu, who province. their passion for luxury goods and Chengdu had little regular art flies to art fairs across the world He says that during the art fair, fancy cars. activity, although private museevery year for his collection, which they will cooperate with wellForbes ranked Chengdu third ums and galleries have mushmainly features videos and conknown artists from Sichuan to on its 2012 China l uxury-conroomed in recent years. ceptual art. make large-scale works to be sumption list, after Beijing and
Her partner, Huang Yu, came up Many of his friends, including placed in public spaces to “interShanghai. Chengdu residents with the idea of holding an art fair some who’re in their 20s, are colact” with locals. bought 40,000 l uxury cars i n in Chengdu in June, after he held a lectors of contemporary Chinese They will also have a special sec2014. show displaying his collection of art. tion of the fair to display local artShi says the fair offers outsiders contemporary Chinese art, featurHuang Yu held a f orum of ists’ works. an incentive to visit the city, which ing works by 66 artists, at a local young Chinese collectors that He says the city is rich in culture has many tourists spots like the museum. attracted many people from the and history. panda park.
The size of Art Chengdu will be small (at first), but we hope it will attract young collectors and art lovers.”
co-founder, Art Chengdu art collector and co-founder of Art Chengdu.
Huang Zai,
She displayed the work in Venice in June. Each bag is shaped like a person. The dress’ tail is about 40 meters long.
She says the gown feels both fragile and weightless once it’s inflated, indicating a balance between humans and nature.
“A person comes into this world and leaves as lightly as a drop of water falling from the universe,” she says.
The theme of love highlights Kong’s oil paintings. She expresses fear and doubt, too.
A large-eyed girl, who looks like her, appears in many of her works, which boast a vivid palette and surreal scenes. Her eyes open wide to show innocence. Her outstretched arms seem ready to explore the world. But her twisted body suggests hesitation caused by the fear of getting hurt.
Kong was a criminal lawyer decades before she turned to painting in 2000.
Her experience has left many emotional scars, she says.
In 2000, the death of her mother added to her depression. She quit law and isolated herself from the outside world, she says, until one day, she bought painting supplies and tried to paint something to kill the time.
She says she felt her sadness and anxieties ease as she painted. She also started to feel stronger and joyful.
Since then, she has been painting feverishly as a salvation from feeling helpless. She also creates installations, poems and performance art.