Exploring Original Nature —Cultural Studies and Art Exhibition concerning Lu Gu Lake
By the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, Embassy of Sweden in Beijing,Consulate General of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kunming and Lugu Lake in Lijiang Mosuo Cultural Research Association as the host of Exploring Original Nature—Cultural Studies and Art Exhibition concerning Lu Gu Lake on December 10,2016. It will be opening in Yuan Xiaocen Art Museum(The opening ceremony for the 14:00) and TCG Nordica Culture Center (The opening ceremony for the 20:00). The exhibition will continue to January 21,2017.
This Exhibition takes the opportunity to display the traditional culture and pristine lifestyle of Mosuo People living near the Lugu Lake area. It is divided into three major parts. Firstly, in the form of paintings: 1. Simplicity – landscape and figure paintings of the Lugu Lake and Mosuo people; 2. Inquiry – paintings that advocate environmental protection; and 3. Transcendentality – contemporary paintings of traditional Mosuo culture, art, mythology and religion. Secondly, in the form of real objects: Authenticity – presentation of traditional Mosuo people’s life. And thirdly, in the form of images and texts: Historicity – theoretical researches of the lifestyle of the Mosuo people and their oral history and mythology. Also, performances of Mosuo folk singers and dancers were featured on the Exhibition opening ceremony.
Some of the artists participating in the Exhibition have visited the Lugu Lake area for their artistic creation in 2010, 2011 and 2014. They have collected and recorded a large number of videos, photos, literature and sketches in those trips. In November 16th 2016, Mr. Gao Xiang, Norwegian artist Alfred Vaagsvold, Swedish artist Christina Hallström, Christina Nyström Jansson,Italian anthropologist Dr. Stefania Renda, Bangladeshi artists Bishwajit Goswami, Tania Sultana and Dr. Zhao Xingyuan, from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, went to the Lugu Lake with some young artists again. All the effort is to carry out more studies for their artistic creation.
By combining previously acquired materials and art works, the Exhibition aims at exhibiting, to the greatest extent, both the art works and existing literature.
The exhibition would break through the limitations posed by the professionalism of traditional art exhibition. By shifting mentality, it is to center around the local traditional culture, art and daily life to discover and explore their potential to develop and expand. It was not only restricted to paintings on easels, but also real objects, photos, videos, performances and many other dynamic means. With a variety of art works, and by presenting the pristine ecology and lifestyle of Mosuo People in the Lugu Lake area, hopefully the more artistic creation will be inspired and contemplation for contemporary cultures kindled.
What’s more, among 40 artists invited to the Exhibition, there are Mr. Alfred Vaagsvold from Norway, Christina Nyström Jansson and Ms. Christina Hallström from Sweden, Mr.Bishwajit Goswami, Ms.Tania Sultana from Bangladesh, Mr. Bova Togo, a Mosuo artist grew up in the Lugu Lake area, Senior Dabadafan, the fourteenth generation of oral history and mythology narrator, five teaching professors graduated from China Central Academy of Fine Arts, and young artist and students from Kunming. Composed of people of different ages, nationalities, and regions, they will present four sets of completely different art studies and creative perspectives.
In recent years, the Lugu Lake has become a popular tourist destination. People are flooding in this ancient place. At the same time, how to coordinate the development of modernization and its unique local cultural ecology and the natural environment has caused people to think. Aiming at exploring the authentic and pristine lifestyle of Mosuo people in the Lugu Lake area through exhibitions and art, the Exhibition attempted to encourage both artists and viewers to reflect more on the modern development of traditional lifestyle and arts, and the relationship between the traditional arts and their contemporary counterparts.
Curator Gao Xiang and translator Stefania Renda speaking, Yuanxiaoceng Museum
The Embassador of Sweden Ms Anna Lindstedt speaking, Yuanxiaoceng Museum
translator Yimei, the curators Alfred Vaagsvold, Gao Xiang and the Ambassador of Sweden Anna Lindstedt, the Swedish Embassy Culture consultant Mathias Lafolie are on the opening at TCG Nordica
TCG Nordica gallery director Luo Fei and curator Alfred Vaagsvold, Yuanxiaoceng Museum
exhibition team, participants and the ambassador of Sweden Anna Lindstedt, the Swedish Embassy Culture consultant Mathias Lafolie are on the opening at TCG Nordica
Artist Tang Zhigang and Gao Xiang are leading a discussion with art students, TCG Nordica
Gao Xiang and Gonggao’s works at TCG Nordica
an installation view from TCG Nordica, Alfred Vaagsvold: Christmas tree and Buddist tree.
art works at TCG Nordica
exhibition space at TCG Nordica
a view of Gao Xiang’s paintings at TCG Nordica
exhibition space at TCG Nordica
Alfred Vaagsvold, STIGMA. 100m painting on paper, Yuan Xiaoceng Museum
Alfred Vaagsvold, STIGMA. 100m painting on paper, Yuan Xiaoceng Museum
Alfred Vaagsvold, STIGMA. 100m painting on paper, Yuan Xiaoceng Museum
Exhibition:Exploring The Original Nature—Cultural Studies and Art Exhibition Concerning Lu Gu Lake
Sponsors: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing
Embassy of Sweden in Beijing
Consulate General of The People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kunming
Lugu Lake in Lijiang Mosuo Cultural Research Association
Organizers: Yuan Xiaocen Art Museum
TCG Nordica Culture Center
Oil Painting Art Committee of Yunnan Artists Association
Central Academy of Fine Arts Alumni Association Office
Co-organizers: Yunnan Oil Painting Association
Guan Zhao Yuan Nian Culture Communication Co.,Lld
Curators: Gao Xiang, Alfred Vaagsvold
Academic Chair: Han Jinsong, Zhao Xingyuan, Stefania Renda, Luo Fei
Executions: Liu Fang, Wang Wei, Qiao Lidan, Wang Bei
Exhibition Assistants: Lv Duo, Yue Tingting
Artists: Bova Togo, Dafan Luru (the fourteenth generation of Daba priest), Wuliuwu Duzhidaba, Dunzhu Zhuoma、Alfred Vaagsvold (Norway), Christina Hallström(Sweden), Christina Nyström Jansson (Sweden), Stefania Renda(Italy), Bishwajit Goswami(Bangladesh), Tania Sultana(Bangladesh), Mong Mong Sho(Bangladesh)Wu Hong, Li Xu, Gao Xiang, Zhu Jinghua, Huang Xin, Gao Xiaoyan, Luo Fei, Wang Xin, He Xiaolu, Zhu Dan, Li Haoyue, Zhou Fengyi, Li Yingyue, Liu Menghui, Yan Lulu, Ying Borui, Jia Yi, Zhang Xiaotian , Chen Ziran, Wang Bei, Wang Wei, Liu Fang, Qiao Lidan, Li Xuezhen, Yan Wan, Bai Hailin, Dai Sumei, Duan Xingmin, Lv Duo, Sun Wenke, Yue Tingting, Gao Yifei
Exhibition Time: Dec 10, 2016 to Jan 21, 2017
Exhibition Opening Time and location:
14:00, Dec 10, 2016 Yuan Xiaocen Art Museum (Address: #26,West Hongta Road, Xishan District, Kunming)
20:00, Dec 10, 2016 TCG Nordica Culture Center (Address: #101, Xiba Road,Xishan District, Kunming)
Symposium Time and location: 15:30, Dec 10, 2016 Yuan Xiaocen Art Museum (Address: #26, West Hongta Road, Xishan District, Kunming)
