Fresh Vision is an annual exhibition project established by He Xiangning Art Museum in 2004. It is held annually following the degree shows in fine art academies in China that take place every summer. The exhibition studies and presents an overview of works by new graduates from the oil painting departments of these academies. From 2013, Fresh Vision is organized by Shenzhen OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT Shenzhen). Applying the same working method as the previous exhibitions, OCAT Shenzhen invited three curators for this year’s exhibition. The curatorial team travelled to nine major fine art academies in Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Shenyang, Tianjin, and Xi’an, visited their degree shows from the end of May to the end of June, met with the graduates and invited outstanding artists, and selected works to be included the exhibition.

The three curators devoted themselves to the project with their individual experiences of and perspectives on art academies, and put forward their reflections on and critical thinking of the art educational system in China in this exhibition. Ideally the art academy provides support, training, and criticism for its students, building and strengthening their artistic foundations and visions, and preparing them for the challenges that they must face as artists. The previous years of training all culminate in the degree shows, which are a look back at the students’ college careers, and a look forward to their career outside of the institution. Fresh Vision 2013 presents a selection from these degree shows, highlighting the most creative work at this vital point of transition for the artists represented. In each academy the degree shows have yielded a highly varied set of artworks, in a myriad of styles, representing a broad range of subject matter. Ultimately Fresh Vision 2013 does not aim to represent coherent trends – as the diversity of artistic practice seen at the academies militates against such a simplistic understanding. Because of this, the criteria on which the curators based their selections comes from their own understanding of “quality,” and as this is reflected in the results on display.

The intention of the Fresh Vision 2013 is not merely to showcase the works by the young artists, but also to be able to approach the foundations and shapes of these artists’ practices and thoughts even closer through the conversations to be held between the curators and the participating artists on the opening and second day of the exhibition. OCAT Shenzhen has a long-term commitment to the practice and research in the field of contemporary art and theory both inside of China and in the international arena. It has developed a series of curatorial, research, and collection projects within the frame of artistic practice and thinking. The diverse formats of exhibitions and ways of working have shaped the institution into a space for practice and experimentation in artistic creation, study and curating, but also a site that engenders the practice of theory.

The three curators are:

Edward Sanderson, an art critic based in Beijing, a graduate of (and soon-to-be-student again at) Goldsmiths College in London, Beijing staff writer for ArtSlant, and having published articles in LEAP, Bazaar Art, Yishu Journal, etc.

Pu Hong, an art critic and curator based in Beijing, having published articles in art magazines, mass media, catalogue and publications, teaching in the Digital and Software Department of the Peking University; B.A. and M.A. in Art History in the Academy of Art & Design Tsinghua University, the Chief Manager of Studio-X , Beijing Architect Center of the University of Columbia.

Li Rongwei, a graduate from the Oil Painting Department of Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts in the year of 2006, and a member of the Exhibition Department at OCAT Shenzhen. The curators’ selections are presented by OCAT Shenzhen, in B10, OCT-Loft, which was also one of the exhibition halls of the 7th Shenzhen Sculpture Biennale (2012).

It is housed in a specially-designed environment by the architect Dai Pu (Daipu Architects), whose Tree Art Museum project was selected for the West Bund 2013 – A Biennial of Architecture and Contemporary Art.

About the exhibition

Curators: Edward Sanderson, Pu Hong, Li Rongwei

Opening: 5.30pm, Saturday, September 7, 2013

Dates: September 7-November 7, 2013

Venue: B10, OCT-LOFT, Enping Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

Sponsor: Overseas Chinese Town Co., Ltd., Shenzhen

Academies: China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Art & Design Tsinghua University, China Academy of Art, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, The Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts

Artists: Chen Minghua, Chen Yi, Chen Yuxi, Cui Caifeng, Du Xue, Du Yu, Feng Yun, Guo Mengyao, He Yinglun, Hiroyuki Charles Machida, Lan Chi, Liang Peiru, Liu Shiwen, Liu Yanli, Ma Jing, Mo Zhi, Qi Fenjun, Sun Qiaochu, Tang Ni, Tang Qian, Wang Jilong, Wang Luyu, Wang Shuo, Wang Yi, Xiao Ya, Yu Hongwei, Yu Linhan, Yue Ning, Zhang He, Zhu Meihuan, Zhu Yi

Critical Conjuncture: A Conversation with Participating Artists

Participants: Edward Sanderson, Pu Hong, Li Rongwei and participating artists

Time: 10-12am, 2-4pm, Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8, 2013

Organizer: OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT) Shenzhen

Courtesy of OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT) Shenzhen, for further information please visit www.ocat.org.cn or contact Jocelyn, Chenlin Liao via T: 0755-26915100, E: liaochenlin@ocat.org.cn.