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SWPS University - Main page

Socially Engaged Art in China: Curators, Exhibitions, and the Changing Conditions of Art Communities

Socially Engaged Art in China: Curators, Exhibitions, and the Changing Conditions of Art Communities
Cao Fei: Tidal Flux, Museum of Art Pudong, Shanghai, 2024. Photo: Marcin Jacoby

What role does socially engaged art play in China today? In this upcoming webinar, Professor Meiqin Wang from California State University, Northridge, joins Professor Marcin Jacoby from SWPS University to talk about Chinese curators and artists who take on important social topics, often in the face of numerous challenges. The discussion will also explore the evolving dynamics of art communities across Chinese cities.

September 23, 2025
18:00–19:15 CEST (UTC+2)
online

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, we are joined by Professor Meiqin Wang of California State University, Northridge, a renowned expert in the field. Together, we will discuss the work of several Chinese art curators particularly interested in socially relevant topics. The second focus of the session will be 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

The event will be held in English.

Panelist

Meiqin Wang
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 panel will be hosted by

Marcin Jacoby
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

  • Logo, East Asian Civilization Research Center, SWPS University

Partner

  • Logo, China Horizons

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

online

Contact

Marcin Jacoby: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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