- Sculpture by leading Chinese
artist, Li Xiangqun, is
part of major group show unveiled at the GSA - The work was previously seen in Beijing’s
Forbidden City as part of the first ever solo exhibition by a contemporary
artist in the world famous museum
|
| Li Xiangqun, leading Chinese artist and President of LAFA and Director of the GSA, Professor Tom Inns, with President Li’s sculpture of Confucius at the opening of East and West Walk Forward |
A sculpture of Confucius by the
leading Chinese artist and President of the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts (LAFA), Li Xiangqun, is one of the
artworks showcased in a major exhibition that was unveiled today, Friday 22
September 2017, in the Reid Gallery at the GSA. The 1-metre white bronze (a highly polished form of copper-nickel) sculpture was previously exhibited in the Forbidden City, one of the
World’s most important and most visited museums, as part of a solo exhibition
by Li Xiangqun in November 2016. This was the first ever solo exhibition by a contemporary
in the Forbidden City.
The exhibition, East and West Walk Forward, which
features work by 35
artists who also teach at LAFA – the
GSA’s partner institute in China – is a centrepiece of the GSA’s autumn
exhibition programme.
features work by 35
artists who also teach at LAFA – the
GSA’s partner institute in China – is a centrepiece of the GSA’s autumn
exhibition programme.
“Luxun Academy of Fine Arts (LAFA) are honoured
to hold an exhibition entitled “East and West Walk
Forward” at the Reid Gallery of The Glasgow School of Art (GSA),” says
President Li. “I would like to extend my
heartfelt congratulations to this exhibition on behalf of the eight thousand
faculty and students of LAFA.”
to hold an exhibition entitled “East and West Walk
Forward” at the Reid Gallery of The Glasgow School of Art (GSA),” says
President Li. “I would like to extend my
heartfelt congratulations to this exhibition on behalf of the eight thousand
faculty and students of LAFA.”
“The
exhibition has been planned for more than six months. There are 36 artists from
LAFA taking and the works cover a range of art forms such as painting,
sculpture, moving image and installation, which concentrate on
the achievements and explorations of arts creation in LAFA in recent years.”
exhibition has been planned for more than six months. There are 36 artists from
LAFA taking and the works cover a range of art forms such as painting,
sculpture, moving image and installation, which concentrate on
the achievements and explorations of arts creation in LAFA in recent years.”
The
exhibition has great significance for the strategic partnership between LAFA
and the GSAas it illustrates the interaction of faculty, works and students. It
is also an opportunity for cultural and artistic exchange between China and
Britain, eastern and western.”
exhibition has great significance for the strategic partnership between LAFA
and the GSAas it illustrates the interaction of faculty, works and students. It
is also an opportunity for cultural and artistic exchange between China and
Britain, eastern and western.”
“The tremendous
depths of culture in China and Britain mark these two countries out as the best
representatives of eastern and western civilizations. These two countries’
cultures vary in many aspects and traditions but the two nations do not see any
rivalry or competition rather we have a complementary relationship.”
depths of culture in China and Britain mark these two countries out as the best
representatives of eastern and western civilizations. These two countries’
cultures vary in many aspects and traditions but the two nations do not see any
rivalry or competition rather we have a complementary relationship.”
The
strategic partnership between LAFA and GSA is based on mutual respect and on this
is the basis on which we conduct our dialogues
and our mutual learning. Moreover, the partnership plays a profound role in the
bigger backdrop of cultural relationships between the two nations.”
strategic partnership between LAFA and GSA is based on mutual respect and on this
is the basis on which we conduct our dialogues
and our mutual learning. Moreover, the partnership plays a profound role in the
bigger backdrop of cultural relationships between the two nations.”
“We hope
that this exhibition can promote the friendship between LAFA and GSA, to help us
to have a better understanding of each other and we look forward to welcoming
the GSA’s School of Fine Art to China.
that this exhibition can promote the friendship between LAFA and GSA, to help us
to have a better understanding of each other and we look forward to welcoming
the GSA’s School of Fine Art to China.
“We will
carry forward the spirit of Yan’an Luxun School of Art – to be the leader of
the times, to stay hungry, and lead Chinese Contemporary art on to the
international stage. “
carry forward the spirit of Yan’an Luxun School of Art – to be the leader of
the times, to stay hungry, and lead Chinese Contemporary art on to the
international stage. “
“The GSA has been working in
partnership with LAFA for the last four years and we are delighted to unveil
this showcase of work by our colleagues in China,” adds Professor Alistair
Payne, Head of the School of Fine Art at The Glasgow School of Art. “This is an important exhibition, not only in the
context of the relationship between the two institutions, but also as an
exhibition in its own right, featuring some of the most eminent artists
practicing in China today.”
partnership with LAFA for the last four years and we are delighted to unveil
this showcase of work by our colleagues in China,” adds Professor Alistair
Payne, Head of the School of Fine Art at The Glasgow School of Art. “This is an important exhibition, not only in the
context of the relationship between the two institutions, but also as an
exhibition in its own right, featuring some of the most eminent artists
practicing in China today.”
“We are
particularly pleased to be able to show the work by Li Xiangqun which has previously been seen in such a prestigious venue
as the Forbidden City,
alongside works by artists including Wei Ershen, who was a key member of the mould-breaking ’85 New Wave’ – the nationwide avant-garde movement that emerged in
China in the mid-1980s.” he adds.
particularly pleased to be able to show the work by Li Xiangqun which has previously been seen in such a prestigious venue
as the Forbidden City,
alongside works by artists including Wei Ershen, who was a key member of the mould-breaking ’85 New Wave’ – the nationwide avant-garde movement that emerged in
China in the mid-1980s.” he adds.
The work on show in the exhibition ranges from
large-scale oil on canvas paintings to bronze sculptures, digital prints on
silk, watercolours, ink paintings on paper. Multi-media sculptures, photography
and calligraphy.
large-scale oil on canvas paintings to bronze sculptures, digital prints on
silk, watercolours, ink paintings on paper. Multi-media sculptures, photography
and calligraphy.
East
and West Walk Forward
runs in the Reid Gallery from 23 September – 29 October 2017.
and West Walk Forward
runs in the Reid Gallery from 23 September – 29 October 2017.
Open daily 10am – 4.30pm. Entry free.
Ends
For further information
Lesley Booth
07799414474
press@gsa.ac.uk
@GSofAMedia