The division of “big hours” and “small hours” originated with the introduction of watches from the West to China. In facing two different systems for calculating time, the concept of Chinese traditional “Shi Chen (one of the 12 two-hour periods of the day)” is regarded as “big hours”, while the newly-introduced Western hours became the “small hours”. When the Western clock and watch, as well as “hours” became mainstream, traditional “big hours” was slowly forgotten during history. In facing the current context of globalization, we generally locate in the intermediate state of “big hours” and “small hours”.

“Big hours: Small hours” began in several artistic activities in networks, and the exhibition is about to feature one of the activities entitled “Day Plan”, based on which more artists are invited to continue the creation, intervened from the perspective of time.

In facing the accustomed “clock hours” which reflect the “hour” and “objective and scientific”, these young artists try to explore more dimensions. In their experience of time, it not only contains the conversion of public and private experiences, but also the alternative to the objective time and subjective one, while its starting point and foundation is closely related to the current cultural context as well as interpersonal relationships.

About the exhibition

Duration: September 7 – October 9, 2013

Opening Reception: September 7, 2013, 13:30 pm

Venue: Project Space of CAFA Art Museum

Host: CAFA Art Museum, School of Humanities, CAFA

Support: Wu Zuoren International Foundation of Fine Arts, Fund of Young Curator, Braun Büffel Foundation of Fine Arts

Directors: Wang Haungsheng, Yu Ding

Executives: Cai Meng, Chen Jie

Curator: Xu Tong

Artists: Sun Qiuchen, Wang Xi, Zhang Xiaodi, Zhao Bang

Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO