Curatorial Residency Autumn 2007
ZHANG WEI
hosted by
Arnolfini and
Relational, Bristol, UK
Resume
Zhang Wei is Director of Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou, China. Vitamin Creative Space was founded in 2002, as the first alternative space in the Pearl River Delta. Many international artists have accepted invitations to the Guangzhou space to participate in a range of projects, while Vitamin has played an instrumental role in introducing Chinese contemporary art to the world.
It dedicates itself to contemporary art-exchange and to analysing and combining different forms of contemporary cultures. Just as vitamins are essential to life, Vitamin Creative Space believes contemporary art is the key to enriching our lives and sustaining our society. It is a space of physical and spiritual unity: the “Space” develops through non-stop exploration within the transforming Chinese context, both practically and theoretically. Life is a process of endless movement and extension, and the floating energy of life is consistently represented in the activities presented in this space.
It is a space for Chinese contemporary art which continuously concentrates on the present age, because contemporary art pieces are full of vitality and possibility. It is a space for cultural exchange in which people with different cultural backgrounds will meet together and discuss the problems of their living environment, and it is a space for the creation of individuality which encourages across-the-border activities and dialogues between creators from different realms.
Projects include The Sole Proprietor and Other Stories by Heman Chong, Guangzhou, China, and From Sleeping to Swimming, London UK (2007); Through Popular Expression, Sittard, Netherlands, Birmingham UK, Cluji and Bucharest, Romania and Singapore (2006); Back to Zhong Guo – Fools Move Mountains, Guangzhou (2005); Object System: Doing Nothing, Madrid, Spain and Thessaloniki, Greece (2004); Asian Field by Anthony Gormley, Beijing, Shanghai, Guanghou, Chongqing, China; Playing at Home/Playing Away: The Maze of Reality, 50th Venice Biennale (2003).
http://www.vitamincreativespace.com
Residency
Zhang Wei’s residency FAR WEST / CHINATOWN, co-hosted by Arnolfini and RELATIONAL, Bristol, will focus on researching questions around parallel perceptions and fantasies of the 'other', in terms of East and West, exploring how such projections of difference are absorbed into everyday 'local' culture.
Her residency and the concluding seminar contributes to the Arnolfini project The Far West, to be realised in the summer of 2008. The Far West is planned as large-scale exhibition, in partnership with the Beijing-based Long March Foundation, curated by Lu Jie (Long March Foundation, Beijing) and Tom Trevor (Arnolfini, Bristol). ‘Off-site’ projects will be curated with, and produced by, Zoe Shearman (RELATIONAL, Bristol). The Far West incorporates ‘off-site’ context-based artworks, participation projects, talks and symposia, and a related programme of performance, walks, film and literature.
Autumn 2007 events are organised and hosted by
Arnolfini and
Relational.
For more information contact zoe.shearman@relational.org.uk
