ART TAKES THE FIELD
At the end of the year, a quiet field in the village of Guang’an, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, will be transformed into a venue for a major modern art event: the Guang’an Biennale of Field Work.
According to a press release sent to Global Times on Friday, the upcoming biennale will begin on December 16 and run until May 10, 2019, and will see participation from countries and regions including UK, German and Japan.
Taking “Heimat,” the German word for “homeland,” the biennial is the artistic answer to China’s call for rural revitalization, according to the event’s chief curator Yi Shan.
“The roots of ‘heimat’ lie in China’s cultivation culture, rural culture and courtyard culture. Our first biennial will explore our roots through artistic means,” he said.
Different from the indoor exhibition spaces at museums or galleries, the exhibition area for the event will be located out in the open and will include exhibits at the Baozhensai, a traditional residential complex dating back to late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the nearby Duan Courtyard and its surrounding pools.
“It will be a challenge for both artists and curators to make full use of this open space to present something different and something that will be welcomed by both visitors and local villagers,” Feng Boyi, one of the curators, wrote in the release.
In Yi’s opinion, the key to successful art creations lies in the liveliness and interaction that takes place during the creative process. He expressed his hopes that the creation of artworks for the event can also involve local farmers, carpenters and blacksmiths so as to better present the region’s people and local landscapes.
Artists are expected to take part in a residence program at Guang’an during the four months leading up to the biennial. Global Times