Body Against Image—The Body Narrative in Contemporary Chinese Art

This lecture aims to trace the historical rise of contemporary Chinese art, using the “body” as its central thread. On one hand, it will integrate relevant theoretical research to interpret case studies of the body in Chinese contemporary art. On the other hand, while analyzing specific works, it will also attempt to unfold the bodily narratives within Chinese contemporary art.

Here, body art concerns not only performance but also explorations and practices across painting, sculpture, installation and other media; within the horizon of body art and its theory, it points to an internal thread running through contemporary art’s historical narrative. Moreover, the issues touched upon by the concept of the “body”—gender, identity, desire, emotion—are also intimately connected to the social history and intellectual trends since the 1970s and 80s.

It can be said that the bodily case studies and narratives in Chinese contemporary art not only engage in dialogue with the corporeal turn in theoretical history and the philosophy of life but also occupy their rightful place within the context of global contemporary art and cultural politics.