As China’s profile continues to rise in global politics and finance, a new exhibit at Queens College explores the contemporary output of Chinese artists, with an eye toward the traditions that have shaped the expression of Chinese culture.
“Meditation in Contemporary Chinese Landscape,” organized by the Godwin−Ternbach Museum at Queens College and curated by Luchia Meihua Lee, features the work of 12 Chinese artists from Taiwan, China, Malaysia and the United States. Working in various media, these artists capture the spirit of traditional Chinese landscape paintings in a contemporary context, using today’s visual language and idioms.
“This exhibition … will educate diverse audiences about traditional Chinese culture and its transformation by contemporary artists, giving insight into their fundamental reverence for nature and ecological harmony, which is so crucial for global survival,” said Godwin−Ternbach Director Amy Winter.
Included is work by Queens resident Zhang Hongtu, whose politically charged painting was seized by Chinese customs officials and banned from exhibition in Beijing during the recent Olympics. Other artists represented in the exhibition are Arnold Chang (Zhang Hong), Lin Shih Pao, Chin Chih Yang, Huang Guorui, YoYo Xiao (Wei Xiao), Cui Fei, Hai Zhang, Marlene Tseng Yu, Chee Wang Ng, Lin Pey Chwen and Yin Mei Critchell.
Looking backward as well as forward, “Meditation” connects Chinese landscape painting to its deepest roots via new technologies and ideas. “Traditional Chinese landscape painting’s most important cultural referent is to ancient Chinese Taoism, not to Confucianism,” said curator Lee. “Taoism teaches that the void — the unknowable that cannot be named or described — is the source of life and the deepest understanding.” Meditation, whether performed according to ancient techniques or aided by thought−provoking pieces of art, is the way to access the void.
The exhibit is also aimed at forging a stronger connection between Queens College and its neighbors in Flushing, according to Winter. “The exhibition parallels Queens College’s newly launched Asian Initiative, which has been designed, in part, to develop and solidify our relationship with the Asian community in Queens … and pave the way for future collaboration,” she said.
Public programs will be offered in conjunction with the exhibition. On Dec. 9, Yin Mei will perform her recent work, “Empty Tradition: City of Peoniesâ„City of Paper – Excerpts,” at Queens College.
