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“China China”, a Chinese group art show, is now on the display at the Pinchuk Art Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine. The exhibit features eleven contemporary artists, including Ai Weiwei’s installation “Forever Bicycle” and his 32 pieces of tree trunks of “Rooted Upon”, as well as installations and performances from the younger generation, such as Sun Yuan, Peng Yu, Zhao Yao, and Yan Xing’s “The Sex Comedy,” among others.
Just like its economy, the Chinese art scene has been booming for the past few years. In the absence of any productive strategic partnership between Ukraine and China, as well as any noticeable political or economic ties, art is a fresh way to connect the two cultures.
“China China,” – which promises to be a cutting-edge cultural adventure though I haven’t visited the gallery myself – is another bold move by the Pinchuk Art Centre. In the past, the gallery has displayed solo exhibitions by Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, Olafur Elliason, Takashi Murakami. It also serves as an educational center and hosts the Pinchuk Future Generation international art prize.
Ukrainian philanthropist and billionaire Victor Pinchuk (networth $3.8 bln as of 2013 estimated by Forbes) founded the center. A successful businessmen, he committed to philanthropy in the 2000s, started his Victor Pinchuk Foundation in 2006. Pinchuk signed Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ ‘Giving Pledge,’ vowing to give half of his fortune to charity. Through art he infuses Ukraine – especially the younger generation – with thought-provoking experiences, otherwise unavailable to a majority of Ukrainians without access to international collections of modern or contemporary art.
The famed artist Ai Weiwei introduced Ukrainians to modern China last summer through artwork during the First Kyiv International Biennale. But the Ukrainian public still remains somewhat virginal in terms of experience with contemporary art, especially, Chinese.
“China China” offers Ukrainians a large and diverse slice of the art pie from the Asian superpower. The works of Chinese artists fill several floors of Pinchuk Art Centre in the historic Bessarabsky Market district. The artists are united in a theme of the many pressing issues in today’s globalized world.
“China China” is an exhibition about two different Chinas: about the present and the past, and about choices for the future” according to the press release, explaining that origins of the inspiration for some of the artwork come from the Cultural Revolution and some stand close to a new socio-cultural future.
New and old, past and future, history and contemporary—the issues, important to communistic China, seem surprisingly relevant to the post-soviet Ukraine as well, with its ongoing struggle to make the most out of its rich historical past and chaotic, uncertain present. Being an old nation, Ukraine is quite resistant to everything new and experimental. At the same time, as an up-and-coming country, it is immensely susceptible to those things. Hopefully, a healthy dose of contemporary art from China will unveil new horizons for those who look ahead.
