Chinese frontier art

"Apartment Art" is an important addition to the Chinese art scene over the past three decades and refers to the critical and radical work of underground, experimental and avant-garde artists.

Chiefly curated by Gao Minglu, who coined the term "Apartment Art", an exhibition at the Shuimu Contemporary Art Space examines the evolution of Chinese frontier art from the end of 1970s to the early 1980s. It is the first of a series of exhibitions that will review Chinese contemporary art from the late 1970s to 1995.

The current exhibition focuses on young artists who used to meet and exhibit their work in familiar surroundings like family apartments. One such circle was the "No Name Group".

Gao says of "Apartment Art": "It took an uncooperative stance academically and politically, and explored a modern style of 'art for art's sake'. It became the symbol of marginal art, as well as academic and official art. It became an important, and probably the most radical, niche within Chinese contemporary art from the latter stages of the Cultural Revolution to the mid 1980s."

On display are paintings, sculptures, installations and videos by more than 40 artists, including Zhu Jinshi, Qin Yufen, Wang Luyan and Ma Kelu. You can also view their old photos and scripts, which comprehensively reflect the political, literary and social circumstances of 30 years ago.

10 am- 5 pm, until Oct 27

Shuimu Contemporary Art Space, 798 Art Space, 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang district

6433-4216

(China Daily 10/24/2008 page22)