Oct 14th 2016

We are excited to exhibit original prints and posters from the Cultural Revolution in China dating from 1966-1976. The works will be shown in both Co-Prosperity Sphere and Research House for Asia Art.

From the curator:

Fifty years ago, Mao Zedong launched China’s unprecedented proletarian cultural revolution which lasted for ten years. To modern China, the impact and influence of the revolution are immense and profound. This era in the history of Chinese modern art can also be regarded as a special period in which a huge number of a highly characteristic style of Red Art had been produced. Among them the posters from the Cultural Revolution are the most typical for they directly embodied the political ideology and served the purpose of political propaganda. Although the posters were a tool for politics they truly contained and condensed the enormous energies of the masses, also, they objectively criticized and overthrew the old art forms. Together with other new art forms such as the revolutionary model operas, the posters were a new kind of visual art reflecting a new world with images imagined by the revolution. The era of Red Art coincides with Western contemporary art in 60’s and 70’s. It does not conform to the standard narratives of the Western contemporary art history, but it is consistent with the nature of contemporary art, that is, to be critical and subversive. In this sense, contemporary Chinese art begins with Red Art as is evidenced by these seemingly remote but stirring posters.

Qigu Jiang

The exhibition takes place in both galleries. Hours by appointment.

Co-Prosperity Sphere
3219-21 S. Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60608

AND

The Research House for Asian Art
3217 S. Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60608
www.researchhouseforasianart.org

Curator: Qigu Jiang

Official Website

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