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Foreword
Before the 1990’s, Songzhuang was nowhere but a small town in Tongzhou District, Beijing suburb. Nowadays, with artists living next door, “Songzhuang” has become a substitute for the largest contemporary art community in China, even in the world.
The first art community in China came into being in the early ninety’s as the country was experiencing socialist economic system reform. Swarming in a village called Fu Yuan Men close to the Old Summer Palace artists had shaken off the shackles of social conventions and enjoyed greater freedom seeking for unique ways of living and artistic creation. After some time they dissolved due to the political shock and the conflict between their unconventional way of living in groups and the restriction of census registration system, and some of the core artists moved into Songzhuang later.
However the emergence of Songzhuang art community shall by no means be perceived as a sheer copy of artist groups from the Old Summer Palace. In fact Songzhuang, since 1994, has withstood more than ten years of chaos brought by socio-economic system reform and ideological transformation. In the past years both the establishment of art market system and the enhancement of the status of art help people recognize the value of Songzhuang art community, not in art history alone. The initial desire for experimenting with new ways of living, which lured these artists to Songzhuang, has now been brewed into a united force accelerating transformation of China contemporary art. Along with the introduction of galleries, art organizations and museums into the zone these Songzhuang artists have turned themselves from utopian idealists into practical doers continuously making contribution to the development of China art system.
While gazing at this interesting art community represented by Songzhuang, equal attention should be directed to the value of art works produced here. The remote location doesn’t block the artists’ vision but somehow shield them from the pollution of the restless consumer society. In fact through the variety of style and art pieces we can see the artists remain sensitive to changing temperament of the times, which exactly is the essence needed for constant self-transcendence.
It’s Duolun MoMa’s greatest pleasure to present the Traveling Exhibition of Songzhuang Contemporary Art and bring these representative works in front of our guests. Our aim is to provide a platform for the audience to feel the energy and vigor of Songzhuang contemporary art force.
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