The start of 2020 witnessed a world facing severe challenges imposed by the novel coronavirus epidemic. On February 29, EST, the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery (Wallach Art Gallery) of Columbia University specially invited Assistant Professor Feng Fan of Tsinghua University Academy of Arts & Design, who is also Deputy Director of the Department of Painting, to render a lecture on "Waterways in Contemporary Chinese Ecological Art" at the Wallach Art Gallery of Columbia University. The lecture was delivered in the form of live broadcast online.
"Waterways in Contemporary Chinese Ecological Art" is co-presented by the Wallach Art Gallery of Columbia University with Columbia Global Centers, Beijing and Columbia University School of the Arts in conjunction with the Year of Water.
Feng Fan's Online Lecture
Starting from the image of "water" and the concept of "shanshui" (mountain and water) in the tradition of Chinese literati painting, the lecture pointed out that the ancient Chinese philosophy of emphasizing the harmonious coexistence of man and nature has a profound impact on the form and aesthetic orientation of contemporary Chinese ecological art.
The modern world has always been following a development model formed under the influence of western modernity and anthropocentrism, bringing about the symbiosis of power, technology and capital. Such a symbiosis has brought about strong conflicts and contradictions between human society and natural ecology, which urges contemporary Chinese artists to reflect on ancient philosophy and aesthetic thoughts and combine traditional ecological philosophy, aesthetic spirit and current living experience. This attempt to introduce oriental wisdom into contemporary ecological issues is a unique feature of contemporary Chinese ecological art, which differs it from western ecological art.
Introduced artist Shang Yang's latest work "Cataract-Coordinates"
Talked with guests after the lecture
Following the lecture, Prof. Feng Fan held talks with Curator Bettie Sue-Hertz, Art Critic and Curator Sophia Kidd, and Artist Tong Yixin on the relationship between the Chinese literati painting tradition and creative strategies in contemporary Chinese ecological art.
▲ Shang yang's "Remaining Water No.2": with composite material on canvas, it is a finished product with sound devices, 2x 7m, 2015
▲ Feng Fan's "Drawing Water with Bamboo Baskets": wickerwork baskets with snow and plastic products, variable size, 2019
▲ Tong Yixin's "Origin of Ripples - Yukon Chapter": High-definition image projection, 13'33", corrugated steel plate, cotton fabric, sound box, 3 x 1.8 x 1.35 m, 2019
▲Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, founded in 1986, moved from Schermerhorn teaching building to the new site of Lenfest Art Center designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop in 2017.
Source: Department of Painting
Editor: Zhao Ruohan
