The Times are Summoning a doing image work by Meiya Lin (b. 1979 Xiamen, Fujian, China), part of There is no ‘I’ in Team, a unique exhibition opportunity to see the work of an extraordinary and vibrant new generation of Chinese artists (mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau), working in moving image, sound and installation art, arguably the most prolific and strongest type of work being created in China at the time.
Working with digital media – video, interactive video installations – Lin examines tensions and binaries, deconstruction and reconstruction. After graduating from her study of painting at Xiamen University’s Art Academy in 2003, Meiya Lin relocated to the Netherlands and undertook a master’s degree at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam, graduating in 2005. Here she specialised in video, and the early promise of her work was rewarded with an invitation from the world-acclaimed Rijksakademie to be a resident artist for two years. Her works explore memories of collectivism versus individual aspiration in China. As with her peers included in the exhibition. Focusing on personal themes and capturing a distinct vision of contemporary China whilst reflecting on how their lives and practices have developed and been affected by rapidly changing social and cultural surroundings. The Times are Summoning reflects on a personal experience from my childhood when children were required to take part in the mass exercise drills that were strictly supervised by local authorities under orders of the Communist Party in Beijing.
The exhibition at The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and across several off-site exhibition spaces. Included work exhibited to activate and animate spaces, filling public spaces with sound and moving image. There were four zones to visit and the art engaged with each of these distinct areas. The exhibition marked the first major group exhibition of young-emerging Chinese contemporary art in the UK. The exhibition was conceptualised as a platform to introduce audiences to the burgeoning contemporary art scene of China. At a time when China’s global influence was ascending, the exhibition offered a rare glimpse into the diverse and complex narratives shaping Chinese society and its artistic expressions. The exhibition showcased the dynamism of Chinese contemporary art but also marked a significant moment in cultural exchange and artistic dialogue.
Watch >> Work
Visitors were invited to explore the interplay of art and space, contemplate the narratives and themes presented, and engage in a cultural dialogue that transcended geographical boundaries. Bringing Chinese contemporary art to the forefront, highlighting its growing importance to the global art scene to new audiences. The exhibition’s success led to a broader recognition and appreciation of Chinese artists, many of whom have since gained international acclaim. Bridging cultures and opening dialogues. It was not only a celebration of Chinese contemporary art but also a testament to the power of art in connecting worlds and expanding horizons. The exhibiting artists offered a speculative commentary on changes in China. Reflecting on the substantial differences in individualist and collectivist cultural orientations and explore complex regional contexts and conditions, history, tradition and modernity derived from their personal experiences while critically reflecting on and simultaneously traversing their world of China now. Capturing a distinct vision of contemporary China whilst also reflecting on how artists’ lives and practices have developed and been informed by they’re rapidly changing social and cultural surroundings.
There is No ‘I’ in Team was curated by Keith Whittle, Keri Elmsly (UK), Pauline Doutreluingne (Germany), Jian Jiang (China). It was generously supported by Culture 10, The British Council China and presented in partnership with ISIS Arts in cooperation with Newcastle City Council. Part of CHINA NOW, the largest festival of Chinese culture ever in the UK, and EAST’08, a world-class celebration of contemporary Asian culture in Newcastle-Gateshead. The exhibition subsequently toured the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London and Program E.V. Berlin, Germany.
