Editor’s Note: the theme exhibition of the 4th Guangzhou Triennial will be unveiled on September 28th. On March 13th, Luo Yiping, director of Guangdong Museum of Art, curators and artists held the news conference in Guangdong Museum of Art, revealing highlights of the exhibition.

Luo Yiping, director of Guangdong Museum of Art, presented the 4th Guangzhou Triennial

Jonathan Watkins, director of British IKON Gallery

Professor Jiang Jiehong from China is curator of the theme exhibition

Susan Philipsz will define the space through sound works

The theme exhibition of the 4th Guangzhou Triennial will run from September 28th to December 16th 2012. So what can we expect in this show? Luo Yiping, director of Guangdong Museum of Art, curators and artists revealed some of the highlights in the news conference held in Guangdong Museum of Art.

Chance for Intimate Contact with Art

The theme of this exhibition of Triennial is “the Unseen”. In Chinese, it can be translated literally as jian suo wei jian. One of the curators, Professor Jiang Jiehong wanted the exhibition to be practice-led rather than theme-led. Therefore the title was not the key of the exhibition.

Artists in this exhibition vary in both regions and times, including those lived in 17th and 18th centuries in both China and overseas. The museum will not be the exclusive venue for this exhibition; shopping centre and outdoor public place have also been selected for the show so that people on the street could contact with art closely. Jiang intended to build a direct connection between artists and audiences. With such a bold and open manner, artworks in the theme exhibition will not be only for students from art schools to appreciate.

No Didactic Approach

Another curator from the UK, Jonathan Watkins thought alike. He expected an exhibition for a closer relationship between artists and spectators. In his view there was no fixed or nature essence in art. And exhibition room should not be a place for didactic education. The exhibition could provide a unique opportunity for people to discover the charm of art with imagination. 
Artist Susan Philipsz, who has engaged in sound art for years, takes part in this exhibition. She admitted that the work for this exhibition has not been decided yet. Before a decision was made, she wanted to first experience this city. Then the artist will present her understanding of the city through her “work of sounds”.

Time: March 14th, 2012   Source: Guangdong Culture   by: Liang Shaohuan