When presented with the concept of a Chinese art exhibit entitled "The Wall," most people would visualize The Great Wall. However, "The Wall" and its journey from China to Buffalo incorporates not only ancient Chinese architecture, but also the idea of breaking down physical and cultural barriers.
UB has been fortunate enough to coordinate "The Wall: Reshaping Contemporary Chinese Art" in conjunction with both the Millennium Art Museum in Beijing and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in downtown Buffalo. The exhibit first debuted in Beijing this summer, and will be shown at three venues throughout Buffalo until the end of January.
"The Wall" was proposed by Gao Minglu, former professor in the Department of Art History at UB. As curator of the exhibit, Gao compiled the first contemporary Chinese art exhibit to travel outside China to the United States.
Because the exhibition represents 47 artists with nearly 90 different works of art, it has been divided amongst three different sites in the Buffalo-Niagara area. "The Wall" can be viewed at the UB Art Gallery in the Center for the Arts and the UB Anderson Gallery as well as the Albright-Knox Gallery in downtown Buffalo.
According to Gao, the works holistically represent not only the significance of physical walls in China, but the changing society and culture associated with the recent modernization of China.
" 'The Wall' can be interpreted as a physical or architectural form such as the Great Wall or other various walls in a living space," Gao said. "A modernization project that has posed a challenge in China, such as the Three Gorges Dam Project, or a cultural and social boundary experienced by Chinese citizens. These interpretations provide the intellectual framework for the exhibition."
Coinciding with the exhibition's opening this weekend, more than 30 scholars from Taiwan, China and North America will join for a three-day academic conference titled "The Roles and Representations of Walls in the Reshaping of Chinese Modernity."
The conference's events, organized by UB's Asian Studies Program, include various discussions, performances, speakers and film screenings, many of which are free and open to the public. Speakers include Gao as well as Arthur Waldron, author of "The Great Wall of China: from History to Myth."
Students of the Asian studies program will be involved in the weekend's events, an opportunity to learn about urbanization and reform in modern China.
In addition, art and art history students at UB will have a semester's worth of time to study the works during the exhibition's run from Oct. 20 until Jan. 29.
UB President John Simpson was very enthusiastic about the opportunity to expose the Buffalo community to this exhibit, especially UB students.
"This is an opportunity for Buffalo's rich and vibrant arts scene, including the arts faculty and students." Simpson said. "Art is a powerful force in breaking down barriers, both cultural and geographic."
While "The Wall" is free at both UB Art Galleries, admission at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is $12. In lieu of paying admission to the Albright-Knox Gallery, viewers can purchase the "Passport" for $12. It resembles an international passport yet contains access to all three galleries as well as a full-color guide.
"The artists not only attempt to represent the physical wall but also as an ongoing social space," Gao explained. "It can also be seen as a concept of cultural boundaries communicating with a viewer on several different levels, such as joining the traditional and modern, men and women, the East and West."
For more information on special events and film screenings, visit thewallexhibition.org.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
