Everyday Legend by Jiehong Jiang

Over the past 100 years traditional Chinese craftsmanship has been interrupted by unprecedented political and social transformations. In response to this, the researcher invited contemporary artists—with diverse perspectives on the situation—to reimagine, appropriate and subvert these fragmented crafts, in order to harness their symbolic potential and exploit their cultural and historical resonances. By reflecting critically on these cultural anxieties, the researcher asked whether tradition and craftsmanship could be reinvented for the future and whether they could be transposed from China to the wider-world. With a shared vision between curator and artists, this project examined the response of contemporary Chinese art to the cultural and social changes that have transformed traditions in a time of globalisation. Qualitative research was undertaken between 2015–16, when the researcher visited artist studios and conducted in-depth interviews with more than twenty-five Chinese artists. Two preliminary exhibitions were curated: firstly, at Artemis Art Space (Shanghai); and secondly, at Today Art Museum (Beijing). Three roundtable discussions between artists, art historians and critics were organised in order to evaluate the process. Supported by a Leverhulme International Network grant (2016–18) and conducted in partnership with New Century Art Foundation and Central Academy of Fine Arts (Beijing), University of Groningen, Goldsmiths (London), and White Rabbit Foundation (Sydney), the researcher extended the project beyond craftsmanship to include areas of art history, sociology, cultural studies, creative industries and tourism. Research included three fieldwork trips to China; four workshops; a symposium in Beijing.

EVERYDAY

LEGEND

INTRODUCTION

Looking towards fragmented Chinese traditions created by cultural interruptions pertaining to political and social transformation over the past 100 years, Chinese contemporary artists stand in various positions favourable to reimagining, appropriating and subverting the processes that traditional craft has long used, harnessing their symbolic potential and exploiting their resonances with culture and history. Starting from a shared vision between curators and artists, this project aimed to critically reflect upon the current situation of traditional arts and crafts and its implications for the present and future, to translate and reinvent Chinese traditions through interdisciplinary discussions and creative practices, and to assess the cultural significance of these everyday traditions relevant to China and to the world today, and to the position of Chinese contemporary art in the international arena. As one of the major outputs, a curated exhibition, Everyday Legend was staged at Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum from 7 November to 7 December 2016, and at Birmingham School of Art, from 4 September to 4 October 2018, to present artwork by 19 artists, responding to the topic.

THE LEGEND

REIMAGINING THE PAST

PUBLICATION

ZHAO Zhao, Lighter, 2016, suet white jade, 8 × 2 × 0.8 cm

Everyday Legend, exhibition at Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai

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THE LEGEND

Extraordinary examples of political mobilisations in Mao’s era were directed against the material and cultural vestiges of the past, followed by disruptions during economic reform and urban development. Supported by a Leverhulme International Network grant (2016–18), Jiang led five international partnership institutions to extend research into the areas of crafts, art, sociology, cultural studies, creative industries and tourism. Fieldwork was conducted by researchers in various town and villages in China to investigate surviving traditional craftsmanship, including imperial silk tapestry, porcelain, lacquer, coloured glazing, clay sculpture, wall painting, paper-cutting, and inkstone carving. Through research activities, this project enabled all the partners to share their observations from differing areas of expertise to inform curatorial practice and future studies in the relevant fields.

Silk tapestry in Suzhou

Porcelain in Jingdezhen

Inkstone in Dingxiang

Glazing in Taiyuan

Paper-cutting in Pingyao

Lacquer in Jinzhong

Clay sculpture in Taiyuan

Wall paintings in Wutai

Temple in Wutai

Buddist grottoes in Yungang

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REIMAGINING THE PAST

This unique situation of Chinese cultural traditions as described in the introduction provides art and artists with challenges and opportunities as traditions are constantly reassessed, reinvented, and offered opportunities to continue in unexpected categories and in new forms of expression. With this insight, this project constructed an original perspective to investigate contemporary art practice in response to China’s cultural loss, social change, and the transformation of traditions in the context of globalisation. Through curatorial research, this project has invited China’s leading contemporary artists to critically reflect upon the latest situation of traditional craftsmanship, including materials, forms, making skills and intangible cultural aspects, and its implications for today and beyond.

LIANG Shaoji, Chains: The Unbearable Lightness of Being / Nature Series No.79 (details), 2003-2016, polyurethane colophony, iron powder, silk, cocoons. dimensions variable

LIU Jianhua, Rime (details), 2015, porcelain, 197.5 × 10 × 12 cm

SHAO Yinong, The Nine Twigs 2011, stainless steel chain, tourmaline, dimensions variable

SUN Xun, Some Actions which Haven’t been Defined Yet in the Revolution (still image) 2011, woodcut animation 12’22”

YANG Xinguang, The Remaining Volume, 2014, wood, dimensions variable

YU Ji, Flesh in Stone #6, 2016, cement, iron

ZHAO Zhao, Fragments

ZHENG Guogu, Spiritual Tour in The Pure Garden: Fall in Love with a Killer, 2014, white marble 38 × 480 × 450 cm

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PUBLICATION

The exhibitions were accompanied by a 240-page bilingual (Chinese and English) catalogue Everyday Legend edited by Jiang and published by the People’s Fine Arts Publishing House (Shanghai).

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