Contemporary Chinese art and the dream of glocalisation

Abstract

This article addresses the emerging world of modern subjectivities represented by the artwork of 12 renowned contemporary Chinese artists, including CAO Fei, SONG Tao, WANG Qingsong and ZHANG Dali, amongst others. Following the January 2008 discussion by media activist Brian Holmes of the role of art in China’s new economy, the author argues that Chinese artists are adopting diversified media forms and artistic/ design characteristics as timeless fantasies within the context of crude economic expansionism, urban transformation and censorship politics. Particularly in the light of China’s opening-up policy following its accession to the World Trade Organization early this century, the author finds it meaningful to investigate how these artists take up or resist the lure of Western or other foreign art trends, and to examine how the new Asian economy is kindling artistic vibrancy and expressionism. The engendered chaos and restlessness are taken by the author as a realisation of the Chinese glocalisation dream.