What role does socially engaged art play in China today? Professor Meiqin Wang from California State University, Northridge, and Professor Marcin Jacoby from SWPS University take a closer look at Chinese curators and artists who tackle important social issues—often under difficult circumstances. The conversation also explores the evolving dynamics of art communities across Chinese cities. Watch the full webinar recording below.
Between creativity and control: Art in today’s China
Exhibitions presenting socially engaged art in today’s China have become increasingly rare. Both artists and galleries often practice self-censorship to avoid attracting unwanted attention from the authorities. Additionally, with less funding available in the art market compared to the pre-COVID-19 era, it is not easy to make budgets meet. And yet, there are not only artists but also curators who continue to take on this challenge, contributing to the ongoing discourse on issues important to Chinese society.
In this webinar, Professor Meiqin Wang of California State University, Northridge, a renowned expert in the field, discusses the work of several Chinese art curators particularly interested in socially relevant topics. The discussion also looks at the changing conditions of art communities in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Sanya.
This webinar is part of the EU-funded research project China Horizons
Watch the full webinar
Guest speaker
Meiqin Wang
Professor
Meiqin Wang is a Professor of Asian Art History at California State University, Northridge. Her research focuses on contemporary Chinese art in the context of commercialization, globalization, and urbanization, exploring themes such as the creative cultural industries, socially engaged art, public art, artivism, and ecological art. She is the author of two monographs: Urbanization and Contemporary Chinese Art (2016) and Socially Engaged Art in Contemporary China (2019). She is also the editor of three volumes: Visual Arts, Representations and Interventions in Contemporary China (2018), Socially Engaged Public Art in East Asia (2022), and Art in Action (2023).
The webinar was hosted by
Marcin Jacoby
Ph.D. / Associate Professor
Professor Marcin Jacoby is a sinologist and translator. He serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and the Head of the
East Asian Civilization Research Center at SWPS University. He is also a member of the China Horizons (DWARC) research consortium. His areas of expertise include Chinese cultural sector, cultural diplomacy in East Asia, ancient Chinese literature and philosophy, and Chinese art theory. In his research on modern China, he focuses on the historical and cultural roots of transformational processes and the tension between tradition and modernity.
Organizer
Partner
The project China Horizons "Dealing with a Resurgent China" (DWARC) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101061700. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Date and location
September 23, 2025
online
Contact
Marcin Jacoby: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.