《 时光·霁 》
Traveling Toward a Perpetual Present
Participating artists: CHEN Qiang｜CHEN Yufan｜DING Yi｜FENG Lianghong | FENG Mengbo｜FENG Yan｜GAO Weigang｜GU Dexin｜JI Lei｜JIANG Pengyi｜JIANG Zhi｜JIN Shan｜LI Qing｜LI Wenguang｜LIU Jianhua｜MA Kelu｜SHI Zhiying｜SHAO Yinong｜SUN Liang｜SUN Yuan & PENG Yu｜WU Di｜XU Bing｜YAN Lei｜YANG Yongliang｜YU Ji｜ZHANG Enli｜ZHANG Peili｜ZHANG Yexing｜ZHENG Zaidong｜ZHENG Lu｜ZHOU Chunya
Duration: 2021.05.09 - 2021.06.16
Opening: 2020.05.08 4pm
SGA Shanghai @ Three on the Bund
Academic Moderator DU Xiyun
Curator WANG Yu
Space & Gallery Association (SGA) is pleased to present a retrospective exhibition: ‘Traveling toward a Perpetual Present,’ opening on May 8th, 2021, at Three on the Bund, Shanghai. The exhibition features a wide selection of paintings, moving images, sculptures, and installations that have been previously presented in the gallery, as well as over ten pieces of new, previously unseen works made by our collaborative artists.
The Chinese title of the exhibition shares the same pronunciation as ‘The Time Machine ’(shi guang ji), a science fiction novella by H. G. Wells. Moreover, the Chinese character “霁” (ji) implies “sunshine after the rain” and “a fresh start.” The retrospective exhibition intends to make a review of the 104 exhibitions presented by the gallery during the past seventeen years; carry out an in-depth survey into the 333 artists SGA has collaborated with, and present a curated group of works and archives that highlights some of the most important chapters throughout SGA’s development history. The gallery would like to extend our gratitude to those who have given us great support along the process and to take the opportunity to announce our vision of future development centring on “openness,” “collaboration,” and “innovation.”
‘Traveling toward a Perpetual Present ’ is curated by Wang Yu, SGA’s newly appointed art director; and Du Xiyun as the guest academic moderator. Participating artists include Cheng Qiang, Chen Yufan, Ding Yi, Feng Lianghong, Feng Mengbo, Feng Yan, Gao Weigang, Gu Dexin, Ji Lei, Jiang Pengyi, Jiang Zhi, Jin Shan, Li Qing, Li Wenguang, Liu Jianhua, Ma Kelu, Shi Zhiying, Feng Shaonong, Sun Liang, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, Wu Di, Xu Bing, Yan Lei, Yang Yongliang, Yu Ji, Zhang Enli, Zhang Peili, Zhang Yexing, Zheng Zaidong, Zheng Lu and Zhou Chunya.
Moreover, SGA Chengdu, a new branch space and an important strategic move made by SGA, will present a retrospective exhibition under the same title from May 15th, 2021.
Artists, curators, directors of art museums and galleries, collectors, experts from the press, and patrons from all walks of life will gather together at the opening ceremon
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After the Mist:
The Beauty of Traveling toward a Perpetual Present
Du Xiyun
If the ‘Stars Art Exhibition’ (xing xing mei zhan) in 1979 is deemed as “when it all begins,” it has been over forty years since the development of Chinese contemporary art. During the process, various order patterns arise and ebb down rapidly and dazzlingly. It not only constitutes an overarching and dynamic background for Chinese contemporary art but also fosters intriguing chemistry with it.
Looking back upon the past from a present perspective, we must confess that contemporary art in China is still at a somewhat marginalized position in the cultural and arts field. Attempts to quest for the truth, experiment with visionary concepts, challenge the once tabooed, and explore the aesthetical subtleties have to be conducted in reduced circumstances, and every step to go further is confronted with obstacles and difficulties. Moreover, as the experimental spirit is often accompanied by controversies and ambiguities, it keeps out those who tend to take a somewhat conservative stance. Under such circumstances, the work of local institutes with a focal point on contemporary art, in a sense, is like that of Sisyphus - laborious yet futile. Furthermore, it takes profound wisdom to agilely deal with various new and complicated scenes, as well as great persistence and determination to carry on this arduous journey in the long run.
It has been seventeen years since Space & Gallery Association (SGA) launched its inaugural exhibition ‘Beyond Boundaries’ on January 16, 2004. During the seventeen years, Chinese contemporary art has witnessed ups and downs, making it one of the most dynamic fields in the cultural scene. Despite all the hypes and drastic changes, SGA remains consistent in its execution of high-quality exhibitions together with visionary curatorial perspectives and its commitment to establish its grounds in Chinese, Southeast Asia, and global art scenes. The gallery integrates local artistic practices with the broader international artistic context and continues to inspire the public with deeper insights into the overarching context from which artistic practices and concepts derive.
Within such a dramatically changing scene, fragility and short-sightedness are common. Perseverance, on the other hand, is rare and precious. With a keen sensitivity to chase profit, it is in the nature of capital to constantly adjust its strategies. Gallery as a profit-making institute is understandably profit-oriented. Yet even with the word “gallery” in its name, SGA seems to radiate a sense of non-for-profitability. Since its establishment, it has consistently presented a series of “museum-level” exhibitions which are known for their high academic quality. To put academic quality before so-called market benefits, to investigate deeply into both concepts and presentation, to expand the focal point from visual arts to more interdisciplinary collaborations … all these visions and actions collectively lay the foundation for SGA to be hailed as an exemplary example among art galleries across China.
Since its opening, SGA has organized over a hundred exhibitions in the international art scene and recognizes the complexities and diversities within the Chinese context. In addition to encompassing a diverse Chinese contemporary art scene, the gallery probes into the dynamic nature between the global and the local, the contemporary and the traditional. With a constellation of global vision, strong aesthetic sense, and an experimental spirit, SGA’s exhibitions earned the gallery its prominent place by imbuing new verve and inspiration into Shanghai's cultural landscape.
Development of the economic globalization led by neoliberalism has now fallen into a stalemate. The struggle between globalization and anti-globalization has put global order into turmoil. An increase in accessibility to information and communication has dramatically reduced possibilities of knowledge monopoly, henceforth visibly narrowing the gap between the so-called elite and the general public. With the emergence of a growing middle class, art trends favored and promoted by them gain more visibility and influence. Moreover, as the presence of social media becomes increasingly dominant in our daily lives, this has earned so-called influencers more weight when voicing their opinions. The factors above have led to the opening of a new chapter in this rapidly changing world. As a witness of times, contemporary art now faces a new round of drastic changes; in turn, those involved in the field are beginning to feel those effects. Naturally, SGA is one of those.
The term “contemporary” means to be in a constant stage of relevancy; and a perpetual state of present along the linear passage of time. In reflection, “Contemporary art” demonstrates the state of “contemporary” through the agency of “art.” While the definition of “contemporary” progressively changes in time, humanity remains a constant.
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
Set in early May 2021, SGA presents ‘Traveling Toward a Perpetual Present,’ a group exhibition featuring over thirty artists whom the gallery has worked with in the past. Altogether, it showcases the gallery’s collective insights toward the Chinese art scene and the global context. It is an opportunity to be teleported on a time machine and take a retrospective look upon the gallery’s seventeen years trajectory. Indeed, after a depressing and chaotic 2020, people look forward to a refreshing new start more than ever. May coincides with Spring and Summer, and it is a month of merriment and blossoming flowers. After a depressing and chaotic 2020, people more than ever look forward to a refreshing new start. To take a time travel after the mist— that’s the beauty of Traveling Toward a Perpetual Present.
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