An unconventional pioneer: Manfred Schoeni and his influence on the Chinese Contemporary Art movement
Dr Martha Liew, 2024
There has been an ongoing debate regarding the development of Chinese contemporary art. While the narrative of Chinese contemporary art is mainly framed under political and historical context by Western scholars, Chinese scholars tend to see Western interpretation as more concerned with "political oppression" without having a more nuanced view or understanding of its social and historical tensions.
This paper aims to expand the current discourse on how Chinese contemporary art was developed in the last four decades by examining two specific points that are worthy of discussion: the first is the lack of acknowledgement of the vital role commercial galleries play in the development of Chinese contemporary art, and the second is the discourse regarding Hong Kong’s unique economic status that helped to bring Chinese contemporary art beyond China, as the former colony has been an important gateway between China and the West.
By examining Manfred Schoeni’s involvement with Chinese contemporary art in the context of China and Hong Kong’s economic, political, and cultural environments during its formative year, this paper aims to enhance the richness of the Chinese art movement, identifying its emergence is not dominated by a certain narrative but instead involving many moving parts. While at the same time recognising the significant role of commercial galleries could play in the art ecosystem.
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