Techniques of the Visible. The theme will focus on the close relationship between art, science, and technology, in particular how art has revealed the interdependent social and political forces that produce and subject technology and humanity. By bringing together the work of more than 120 artists from Asia, Africa, North America, Latin America and Europe, the curators have worked towards a diversity of approaches to technology, revealed both through the number of artist projects exhibited and the variety of sites in which these installations are located. The exhibition space of the Museum is divided into five areas, focusing on projects dealing with spaces of visual production and consumption. The dispersal of some projects in the public spaces reveals an effort made by the curators to highlight a multifaceted approach to the theme
Curators: Zhang Qing, Zheng Shengtian, Sebastian Lopez, Xu Jiang
Since its first edition in 1994, the Shanghai Biennale has been China's first and foremost international exhibition for contemporary art. Continuing this commitment to contemporary artistic practice, the theme of the 2004 Shanghai Biennale, Ying Xiang Sheng Cun, "Techniques of the Visible", will focus on the close relationship between art, science, and technology, in particular how art has revealed the interdependent social and political forces that produce and subject technology and humanity.
By bringing together the work of more than 120 artists from Asia, Africa, North America, Latin America and Europe, the curators have worked towards a diversity of approaches to technology, revealed both through the number of artist projects exhibited and the variety of sites in which these installations are located.
The exhibition space of the Shanghai Art Museum is divided into five areas, focusing on projects dealing with spaces of visual production and consumption: the film studio, the dark room, the theatre, the painting studio and the cinema. In the Museum, the contemporary practices range from traditional forms, to photography and film. To emphasize the multiple interrogations by artists towards technology by bringing together practices from around the world, the curators of the 2004 Biennale have expanded beyond the main venue of the Shanghai Museum. The dispersal of these projects in the public spaces outside the Museum reveals an effort made by the curators to highlight a multifaceted approach to the theme of the Biennale.
In the People's Park, located beside the Museum, more than ten installation spaces will be constructed to act as Media Houses for projects that investigate the relationship between technology and human action. The works exhibited here will utilize every possible new media method.
A more historical dimension of the theme of the Biennale will be investigated in an exhibition geared towards the establishment of a Museum of Chinese Photography in Shanghai. The exhibition will look at the development of photography in simultaneity with the emergence of Modernism in China. Pictures and captions representing historical documents of Chinese photography will be displayed in a corridor of more than 100 meters in length, set up in the People's Park.
Intrnational Film & Video
In addition to the exhibitions in the Museum and People's Park, a program of International Film & Video will also be shown at the Auditorium of Shanghai Art Museum (4th Floor, 325 West Nanjing Road). Divided into three sections: experimental short films by contemporary artists (including a special screening for Hong Kong Short Art Film); Chinese independent films 2000-2004; and Chinese documentaries, the Opening Screening of this program will be at 6:30 pm on Wednesday September 29th, featuring the films of Yoko Ono. A timetable of screenings will be available on the website www.shanghaibiennale.com.
International Symposium
Along with the exhibitions, the Shanghai Art Museum will host an International Symposium on September 29 and 30, bringing together distinguished scholars, curators, critics and contemporary artists. This two-day symposium will provide a space for the development and concerns revealed by the main theme of the 2004 Biennale. Taken from Chinese terminology of ying xiang and sheng chun, the concept emerges from an interest in the technology-based visual products that retain critical historical and emotive references. Ying Xian Sheng Cun suggests that artistic practice engaging with "technology" is inherently placing itself within a historical continuum, where cultural metaphor becomes critical to its understanding. The Symposium will also take place in the Auditorium of Shanghai Art Museum (4th Floor, 325 West Nanjing Road).
Public Lectures
A Public Lectures program will also be announced, scheduled to take place between September 28 and November 27, where curators, scholars and participating artists will be invited to discuss the exhibitions and other key topics related to issues of technology and art.
A catalogue with contribution of the curators and the works in the exhibition will be available, together with a Guide for the Public.
2004 Shanghai Biennale Participating Artists including Film and Video (listed alphabetically)
Tariq Alvi, Rotterdam, London
Tiong Ang, Amsterdam
Big Dipper Group (Tang Yingshan Sun Zhezheng Wang Kai Yan Fenglin), Beijing Nanjing Shanghai Wuxi
Miguel Rio Branco, Rio de Janeiro
Tania Bruguera, Havana, Chicago
Robert Cahen, Paris
Chen Haiyan, Hangzhou
Chen Jieren, Taipei
Chen Shunzhu, Taipei
Chen Xiaoyun, Hangzhou
N + N†Corsino (Nicole & Norbert Corsino), Marseille
Mauricio Dias Walter Riedweg, Rio de Janeiro
Gonzalo Diaz, Santiago (Chile)
Stan Douglas, Vancouver
Touhami Ennadre, Paris
Kota Ezawa, San Francisco
Feng Jiangzhou, Beijing
Feng Mengbo, Beijing
Feng Qianyu, Yangjiang (Guangdong)
Fu Yu Jia Haiqing, Beijing
Coco Fusco, New York
Gan Chao Liang Zi, Shanghai
Geng Jianyi, Hangzhou
Maruch Santiz Gomez, San Juan Chamula (Mexico)
Group Muro Sur, (Represented by: Voluspa Jarpa Josefina Guilisasti), Santiago (Chile)
Gu Xiong, Vancouver
He Jianjun, Beijing
Hong Donglu, Taipei
Hong Kong Art Centre Videotage, Hong Kong
Hou Bo, Beijing
Hu Jieming, Shanghai
Hung†Keung, Hong Kong
Jia Zhangke, Beijing
Jiang Yue, Beijing
Choi Jong Bum, Seoul
Philipp Lachenman, Cologne
Ladder to Heaven Group (Jiang Zhi, Cao Fei, Yang Fudong, Chen Xiaoyun), Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou
Yuri Leiderman, Moscow , Cologne
Mee Ping Leung, Hong Kong
Li Tianbing, Hu-an (Fujian)
Li Xiao, Beijing
Li Yang, Beijing
Shu-Min Lin, New York
Liu Bingjian, Beijing
Liu Wei, Beijing
Liu Zheng, Beijing
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Montreal, Madrid
Lu Chunsheng, Shanghai
Oswaldo Macia, London
Fabian Marcaccio, New York
Sebastian Diaz Morales, Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina)
Ni Haifeng, Amsterdam
Nibroll (Represented by Takahashi Keisuke), Tokyo
Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, Ho Chi Minh City
Khyentse Norbu, Paro (Bhutan)
Ellen Pau, Hong Kong
Park Junebum, Seoul
Vong Phaophanit, London
Keith Piper, London
Qiu Shihua, Shenzhen
Qiu Ting, Beijing
Qiu Zhijie, Beijing
Kerim Ragimov, St. Petersburg
Rong Rong Inri, Beijing, Tokyo
Michal Rovner, Tel Aviv, New York
Graciela Sacco, Rosario (Argentina)
Berni Searle, Johannesburg
Shao Yinong Mu Chen, Beijing
Cindy Sherman, New York
Karla Solano, San Jose (Costa Rica)
SS Creative Group (Represented by Zhu Qingsheng Russell Pensyl), Beijing
Su Xia, Guangzhou
Sun Liang, Shanghai
Vivan Sundaram, New Delhi
Trinh T. Minh-ha, Berkeley (California)
Tsai Wen-yin, New York
Tseng Kwong Chi, New York
Humberto Velez, Manchester
Julia Ventura, Lisbon, Amsterdam
Bill Viola, Los Angeles
Jeff Wall, Vancouver
Wang Bo, Beijing
Wang Hui, Beijing
Wang Jianwei's Group (Shi Qing Wang Wei), Beijing
Wang Ningde, Guangzhou
Wang Qiang Suzuki Ryoko, Beijing, Hokkaido
Wang Xiaoshuai, Beijing
Wang Youshen, Beijing
Wei Xing, Kunming
Wu Ershan, Beijing
Wu Quan, Beijing
Xiao Yu, Beijing
Xu Xiaobing, Beijing
Miranba Ngai Tsui, Hong Kong
Xu Zhen, Shanghai
Yang Fudong, Shanghai
Young Hay, Hong Kong
Yoko Ono, New York
Yu Hong, Beijing
The Mapping of Yanchuan Country Paper-cuttings, Beijing, Yanchuan (Shanxi)
Yue Minjun, Beijing
Zhang Hui, Beijing
Zhang Peili, Hangzhou
Zhang Xiaogang, Beijing, Chengdu
Zhao Gang, Chengdu
Zhou Hao Ji Jianghong, Guangzhou
Zhou Tiehai, Shanghai
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