Other Future

What China shows in the world arena is not always commonplace. It might be a dynamic world of political and economic significance, or the challenges in its social and environmental governance. The world is asking what the future holds for China? We could look away from the turbulent change or development, maybe look at people in their regular life do not always involve politics, wealth, art, discourse, power, or commerce. Perhaps one may find the vigor of the Chinese that remained unchanged despite all the vicissitudes of life, and their extraordinary works of creativity.

The China Pavilion at the 56th la Biennale di Venezia looks into "Other Future". It discusses the following questions: Is art encompasses a larger ambit? And how does it respond to current events and future challenges? How independent could an artist cross-disciplinary practice? What are sources of vitality and originality for art works? All these questions point to civil future.

The term "civil" here is not a sociological concept. Rather, it involves the existence of every individual member of civil society who is unique and defies classification. Also, "civil" represents open minded and tolerant, and at the same time rather challenging stand in current China: spontaneous, non-mainstream pursuits and creativity and the enjoyment of freedom of creativity. And "Future" is not something of invented Utopia; it stands more for the coexistence of and interaction between the old and new worlds, and for endless possibilities that are accumulated and created in different social dimensions."Other Future" is a sort of observation, a question, and something in progress. For the majority of artists with well-defined attitudes, their artistic visions and thoughts on society transcend time, space and culture, representing not merely the dreams of their countries, but also the future all the world moves towards.

The China Pavilion invites 3 artists and 2 art self-organizations.

Each artist is an explorer outside the official system with challenging subjects and boundaries of creation. They draw inspiration from ordinary lives and traditions, seeking cross-disciplinary innovation with contemporary relevance. Their understanding of contemporary art and social reality is revealing dynamic energy of Chinese art communities, its ongoing diversity and the possibility of going beyond what is conventional.

Works of Tan Dun and Lu Yang draw inspiration from traditional Chinese culture and classics, such as Nu Shu culture (women's script, national non-matter cultural legacy), Buddhist art, Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Rivers) and deity sculptures. With the interaction of contemporary music, intangible cultural heritage and new media, the artists transcend cultural boundaries with their breathtakingly imaginative languages of art that engaging with audience. Liu Jiakun's art installations, CCD/Living Dance Studio's works (documentaries "China Village Documentary Project", "Chinese Civil Memory Documentary Project", modern dance projects) are created in interaction with ordinary people over the years, reveling a solid image of everyday life in China. Their ways of approaching reality, displaying tension in more audacious ways and their intervention in society, not only extend the boundary and definition of art, but also present a vivid picture of “other future” in China.

The works convey these artists' exceptional views and sentiments, representing their unique ways in which they respond to current issues: challenges, compassions, rights, equality, criticism, indignation, or more profound relationships with the past and present. They exploit the nature of things, taking root in reality, yet with their viewpoints and creativity.

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