Educational Media Reviews Online

To those unfamiliar with the contemporary art of mainland China, this documentary may raise more questions than it answers. But, as its title suggests, China, the Empire of Art? is all about asking questions.

The focus of the film is the period since the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising, featuring the work of artists who came of age in that era. Largely driven underground during the 1990s, these artists are now experiencing unprecedented popularity with works fetching millions in Western markets. In interviews with artists, critics, collectors and curators it is apparent that this recent upsurge of interest has brought with it a tumult of change that is intensely liberating, but burdened with Western expectations, often laden with stereotypes.

Visits to studios, galleries and art schools in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere are a highlight of the film. Typical or not of the state of art in China these days, the pace at these sites is frenetic: cavernous studio spaces where work is carried out on a grand scale; sprawling urban galleries that are fast becoming art destinations; schools teeming with art students and flooded with applicants. All involved seem poised to exploit this new culture to its fullest.

While this look at contemporary Chinese art is certainly eye-opening, the film seems to assume a greater familiarity with the subject than the average Western viewer might actually possess. Further, it seems to suspend contemporary events and individuals in time—perhaps intentionally—to emphasize the extent to which this period is truly unique in China’s long history; some background, however, would not have come amiss.

A snapshot of a phenomenon well worth watching, China, the Empire of Art? is recommended for libraries with collections in contemporary art.