Page 213 - Contemporary Art and Old Masters

post-philosophy and arouse further thinking in the
occurrence of art. Therefore, the session of “Bodies
of Water as Art Philosophy” aims to make a new
response to the symbiotic relationship between art
and philosophy or the complementary relationship
between philosophy and art with the help of the latest
academic discussions on water.

Keynote speech: BODIES OF WATER IN CONTEMPORARY
ART OF CHINA
Keynote Speaker: ANTHONY YUNG
Panelists: QV JINGDONG, YUAN XIN, YING XING, LU
MINGJUN, CAO MINGHAO, CHEN JIANJUN
A view from Shanghai Biennale, courtesy of Shanghai Biennale
In the summer of 1995, the program of “Defender
of Water” in Chengdu marked the first time that
DEBATES ON BODIES OF WATER
Chinese contemporary artists were involved in social
Keynote speech: BODIES OF WATER practice in the name of ecological protection. In 2001,
Keynote Speaker: ANDRÉS JAQUE Ying Xing’s book aroused widespread concern and
Panelists: MARINA OTERO VERZIER, LUCIA discussion. The story he tells in his book seems to go
PIETROIUSTI, YOU MI, FEI DAWEI,HOU HANRU, beyond the level of water as an ecosystem, but the
MARK WIGLEY conflict between local logic and national governance
logic is the consequence of ecological upheaval, which
From cells to bodies, bodies to other bodies, pipes to also belongs to a part of the ecosystem. Today, the
gills, labs, climates, the Biennale is inspired by trans- depletion of water resources and ecological disorder
species alliances. Within the spectrum of global climate has become a global crisis. How to really participate
change, the curatorial language of this edition of in the protection of bodies of water and ecological
Shanghai Biennale comes from these cross-population environment in the name and way of art may not be
alliances. From a breath to the composition of an enough just by declaration and posture. People also
ecosystem, we are interconnected and interdependent. need to face the complex social causes that lead to
In the face of the challenges experienced by all mankind, their disorder, as well as the fierce social conflicts
this year’s Shanghai Biennale will prove the connection caused by it. More importantly, as a “wet medium,”
and inseparability between people by excavating water represents a larger ecosystem and indicates a
various forms of circulation and blending. In addition to new way of ecological cognition.
interpreting the concept of this edition of the Shanghai
Biennale, the curatorial team will also discuss the WORK Architecture Company's artworks, installation view at the 13th
difficulties and focus of the curating, and forge a dialogue Shanghai Biennale PHASE 03: AN EXHIBITION, 2021. Courtesy Power
Station of Art, photo by Chen Hao
with Fei Dawei, Hou Hanru and Mark Wigley, members of
the PSA Academic Committee.

Keynote speech: TIME, AND THE IMAGERY OF WATER
Keynote Speaker: ZHAO TINGYANG
Panelists: SUN XIANGCHEN, SHEN YUBING, ZHANG
SHUANGLI, WANG WEIJIA, WANG JIANWEI
As a metaphor, bodies of water has evident
connections to mobility, de-territorialization, post-
feminism, post-humanism and so on. Philosophy of
art is a word that has returned to the field of art
or philosophy in recent years. It is not presented
as the discourse of a discipline, but attempts to
ask the question of art in the perceptual space of

WORLD of ART 213