MCLC: Yan'an Talks and art (1,2)

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: kirk (denton.2 at osu.edu)
Subject: Yan'an Talks and art (1)
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In terms of connections between contemporary art and the Yan'an Talks, you
should look at a special issue of <Yishu: Journal of Contemporary Chinese
Art> (Sept 2006) on the Long March Yan'an Project. The Yan'an Project was
part of the larger Long March Project (affiliated with the Long March
Space: http://www.longmarchspace.com), established in 2002 by Lu Jie (卢杰).
One facet of the multi-faceted Yan'an Project was the convening of a
"Yan'an Forum on Art Education." Various installations and performance art
Were also held at important historical sites in an around Yan'an. The
Forum nd some of the art works are discussed in articles in the special
issue of <Yishu>.

Here's a description of the forum from a "Long March Yan'an Newsletter"
(which I downloaded from the Long March Project website):

<On the 64th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s “Yan’an Forum on Arts and
Literature”, a discussion regarding the future of contemporary art
education initiated by artist Cai Guo-Qiang and organized by the Long
March Project was launched at the historical site of the “Kandga”
University (Anti-Japanese University) in northwestern city of Yan’an
(1940’s). The forum brought together a variety of viewpoints from leading
art educators from art academies, officials from the education and
cultural ministry, directors of education from museum and contemporary art
organizations, as well as scholars, critics, and curators who have been
engaged with the issue of education. The 31 participants included, Cai
Guo-Qiang, Fei Dawei, Fan Di’an, Fang Lei, Gao Shiming, Hu Heli, Li
Gongming, Liu Dahong, Liu Xiaodong, Liu Yonghua, Lu Jun, Lu Shengzhong, Lu
Jie, Luo Zhongli, Ni Zaiqin, Pi Daojian, Philip Tinari, Qiu Zhijie, Shen
Meng, Sui Jianguo, Wang Huaxiang, Wang Mingxian, Wang Nanming, Xu Jiang,
Yang Dongping, Yang Jingsong, Zhang Peili, and Zheng Shengtian. Professors
Zhu Qinsheng and Gao Minglu provided a written text, and Chen Danqing
presented a speech via telephone. In addition, over 20 artists who
realized works at the Long March Yan’an Site were also in attendance. The
Forum focused on the issues “current situation and understanding of
contemporary Chinese art education”, “what is contemporary art education?
– Differences, challenges, and breakthroughs”, and “How Should
Contemporary Art Education be Implemented?” Setting out from the history
of art education in China and international influences, to the current
situation, contradictions, conflicts and challenges, as well as future
possibilities, different views were engaged with and discussed.>

The attitude of the artists involved in the Yan'an Project toward the
Maoist past seems to be at once respectful and interrogative.

Kirk 

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From: Brittany Wellner <brittanymw at googlemail.com>
Subject: Yan'an Talks and art (2)

Bonnie S. McDougall's Mao Zedong's "Talks at the Yan'an Conference on
Literature and Art": A Translation of the 1943 Text with Commentary. (U of
Mich press, 1980)

Is excellent for a start.

Regards,

-Brittany W.