MEMORY AND CONTEMPORANEITY
Evento collaterale della 57. Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte - La Biennale di Venezia
WANG YAMIN
Curator of the exhibition
This is a contemporary art exhibition themed on the Palace Museum. The PalaceMuseum, historically known as the Forbidden City, is an important carrierof the Chinese nation’s long civilization and is the best example of the Chineseroyal architectural art. It has a square size, a clear axis and a symmetrical structure,reflecting the pursuit of the Chinese people for the rank, order, dignity and harmony.With its architectural achievements, the Palace Museum provides the most intuitiveexample of the Chinese civilization and embodies the eternal theme of orderand dignity. Inside it is also the collection of very precious works of artthat penetrate 5,000 years of the Chinese civilization. These works of art are madeof almost all of the materials we can imagine, including gold, wood, stone,jade, silk, paper and other different substances. They span across historyand regional cultures and are together fused into the cultural spirit of the Chinesenation. This spirit formed after thousands of years of rains and winds is so farreflected in the daily life of the Chinese people.
Since its inception, the Palace Museum (the Forbidden City) has been the world’slargest Chinese art collection center and brought together many dynasties’ bestroyal art works. The Palace Museum has also been very open and inclusive.The works of many Western missionaries, including Matteo Ricci and GiuseppeCastiglione, have also taken root here. This has made the Chinese culture havea diversified communication and dialogue stage. The Forbidden City has thuspromoted the integration of Eastern and Western cultures and arts. The lastingChinese civilization was just conceived in such blends and collisions full of vigor.Therefore, what the Palace Museum collects are not just 1.86 million pieces (sets)of solid cultural relics but the cultural heritage accumulated layer by layerand the spirit of integration and creation - this is also an eternal axis passingthrough the Palace Museum.
The exhibition is just the continuation of inheritance, integration and creation.Despite their different personal styles, the works of the artists participatingin the exhibition all pass on the genes of the Chinese civilization.Inspired and influenced by the rich connotation of the Palace Museum, the artistsinterpret the profoundness and vigor of the Chinese civilization with their uniquepersonalities and excellent creativity. Their works represent the proud achievementsof the Chinese contemporary art and will also be condensed into a new traditionin the coming years and thus be remembered and inherited.
Venice, 11 May 2017