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November 29, 2015

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Contemporary Chinese art donated to Cambridge University

CAMBRIDGE University will be the new home of three artworks by leading contemporary artists from China — a token of appreciation of the bonds between the Chinese community and the prestigious British university that also marks the last month of the Year of Cultural Exchange between the UK and China. The three artwork were on display at London’s Saatchi Gallery as part of the New Chinese Art exhibition until recently, and artists Shen Qibin, Guan Ce and Jin Feng have decided to donate one piece each to the university.

Additionally selected pieces will go on a temporary exhibit at Cambridge’s Jesus College.

Shen Qibin donated Water Series of Post-Garden, which will be joined by Guan Ce’s Flowers and Birds and Jin Feng’s Map of China in Cambridge.

This is the first time a renowned Chinese art agency has directly contributed artworks to Cambridge University.

Each of the artists’ works is defined by a conscious awareness of the connection of human nature, emotion, history and heritage. The themes connecting these artworks are the ecological and economic issue.

Shen Qibin uses the poetic leitmotif of the garden and the ancient Chinese cosmology of the five elements to go on a devised journey that shows Chinese culture between a classical paradise and a polluted urban nightmare where luxury means having access to a tiny backyard.

In his Flowers and Birds series, Guan Ce mixes his own, modern impressions with those of traditional paintings, resulting in contemporary, de-constructive and yet traditional art.

David Elliott, Gary Xu and Du Xiyun curated the New Chinese Art exhibition, with Xu explaining that the exhibition “explores the overall contention with current Chinese culture and philosophy” and “presents the artist’s obsession with reading, thinking and contemplating.”

At Saatchi Gallery, all three floors were used for the New Chinese Art exhibition, a sign that contemporary Chinese art is receiving more recognition in the UK as well as in the global art market.

After the private exhibition at Jesus College, the works will return to London where the public will be able to see them again.

President Xi Jinping’s recent visit of a students’ exhibition at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts has put the spotlight on the UK arts sector.




 

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