The Thirteen: Chinese Video Now

The recent Western upsurge of interest in all things from China —as the country undergoes massive urban renewal and its sphere of influence spreads—is also reflected in the attention directed at Chinese contemporary art. Recent exhibitions throughout the world have highlighted the creative activities of young Chinese artists. This creativity is especially apparent in video, a medium whose accessibility allows artists from different backgrounds to experiment, free from the constraints of other more traditional forms of art such as painting or sculpture.

The thirteen artists in this exhibition are all based in mainland China , in the cities of Beijing , Shanghai and Guangzhou . Two are represented by galleries in London and New York , and some have shown in group exhibitions outside China . For many, this exhibition was the first time their work has been seen in New York . The exhibition includes a cross section of video art that has a real intimacy with the social dimensions of urban China . It is diverse, ranging from the lyrical to the satirical, from documentary to fantasy. Together these artists provide fascinating insights into some of the concerns and values of modern China .

The Thirteen in no way represents a grouping or a particular category of contemporary video art in China other than presenting artists who have readily taken up the accessible technology of the digital video camera and DVD. The immediacy and flexibility of these tools allow artists to make works than run from a few minutes to half an hour, stretching from ambitious studio productions to low-budget hand-held camerawork.

This exhibition was first showed in P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in New York from the 26th of February to the 29th of May 2006. The exhibition has been organized in collaboration with Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, a recently formed multi-functional arts organization based in Beijing , whose aim is to develop and promote contemporary art from China . The first-hand knowledge of the Chinese art scene and the expertise provided by Platform China has been invaluable in ensuring that the content of The Thirteen: Chinese Video Now provides a challenging and completely up-to-date program of new art.

As the co-organizors of this exhibition, Platform China will tour the exhibtion to Beijing and show the works to Chinese audience at its main exhibition spaces(1100sqm) located in East End Art District ( Caochangdi area) from 22nd of July to the 13th of August 2006. The opening party will be hold at 3pm on the 22nd of July.

The exhibition is organized by P.S.1 Adjunct International Curator David Thorp and Platform China Contemporary Art Institute Director Sun Ning.