Promoting rural revitalization through modern art

The Guang’an Biennale of Fieldwork 2018 will be an exercise in innovative art-oriented rural transformation, organizers of the Biennial announced at a news conference on Aug 3.
The exhibition area will include Baozhensai,a totally enclosed traditional residential complex in east Sichuan province built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),and Duan’s Grand Courtyard,a construction typical of ancient architecture in west Sichuan province.
The Biennale will be in accordance with China's rural revitalization strategy, particularly from a cultural perspective.
According to Yi Shan, chief curator of the Biennale, the event will focus on three aspects—farming, local rural culture and traditional courtyards.
“We will attempt to convey the root of China’s villages from these aspects through contemporary art,” he said.
He added that he hoped the Biennale will make the rural areas more beautiful and enrich local people’s cultural lives.
Gu Zhenqing, a curator of the exhibition, said the Biennale is a chance for artists to further explore Chinese culture and show their respect for nature.
To better demonstrate rural culture, local people—farmers, carpenters and blacksmiths—will be invited to participate in the design process, Yi Shan explained.
The Biennale will open on Dec 16 and will last until May 10,2019. Artists from countries such as Russia, Italy, Germany, Japan and France will also be invited to the event.

Notices of the Biennale were written in traditional Chinese calligraphy on lanterns by local people. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Visitors experience a local feast - Babayan - which includes more than 20 dishes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Yi Shan, chief curator of the Biennale, says the event will focus on three aspects -farming, local rural culture and traditional courtyards at the news conference on Aug 3. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]