Opening：
“CULTURE•MIND•BECOMING” at The 55th Venice Art Biennale Collateral Event

Date ｜ 2013.6.1~11.24
Venue ｜Palazzo Mora(Strada Nuova 30121, Venezia, Italy 340 5300437 )
｜Palazzo Marcello ( Rio Terà degli Assassini 3699 San Marco, 30124 Venice, Italy )

The 55th International Art Exhibition
Major Collateral Event of Chinese Art – “Culture．Mind．Becoming”
Cross-cultural Collaboration between International Foundations, Galleries, and Curators
Three Sections of Profound Ideas Arouse Global Appreciation in Venice
“Culture．Mind．Becoming” – a magnificent exhibition of Chinese art jointly organized by Global Art Center Foundation (GACF) and Asia Art Center, was unanimously selected by the Venice Biennale’s board to be included as an official Collateral Event of the 55th International Art Exhibition (La Biennale di Venezia), as well as one of the few major collateral events from China. However, in contrast to other Chinese exhibitions where they are formed Chinese curators and sponsoring organizations, “Culture．Mind．Becoming” is a project of cross-cultural collaboration involving European foundations, Asian galleries, and celebrated curators from the East and the West. The exhibition consists of three sections: “Re-discover” by independent curator Karlyn De Jongh from the Netherlands, “Ingrandimento” curated by Chinese notable independent curator Huang Du and Yang Shinyi, and “Fang Lijun: A Cautionary Vision” organized by Italian curator Danilo Eccher, current director of Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (GAM) at Turin city in Italy. A total of 36 Chinese artists showcase their artworks at ancient venues, from easel paintings, sculptures, to installation, audiovisual, performance art, more than 60 works are on display, contributing to an exhibition of multifaceted artistic expressions.
Both ancient venues owned by the foundation, Palazzo Mora and Palazzo Marcello, are renowned historic buildings in Venice, both locate right adjacent to the Grand Canal, thus attracted more than 3000 enthusiastic visitors during the 3-day VIP preview from May 29th to 31st. Attending guests include: Barbara London, curator of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA); Jo-Anne BirnieDanzker, director of Frye Art Museum in Seattle; Eugene Tan, director of Singapore Art Museum; Hsieh Su-chen and Gao Peng, director and vice-director of Today Art Museum; Peng Feng, Chinese Pavilion curator for the 54th International Art Exhibition; Gu Zhengqing, curator and art critic; international collectors UliSigg and Pierre Huber; Barwell Arts Foundation; artists Ma Desheng, Cheng Danqing, Yang Qian, Lu Hao, Hsu Chong Ming, and more. Representative figures from important art organizations also joined the opening night. Dong Yi, chief executive officer of Beautiful Asset in Beijing came with directors from the China Art Museum Union, including: Ho Xing, director of Jilin City Museum; Hao Qi, director of Qingdao Art Museum; Zhao Hong, director of Lijiang Art Museum; Yin Chun Lei, director of Ordos Bronze Museum; Chen Yu Miao, director of Yi He museum in Wu Han; Wang Xin, vice-director of Liu Haisu Art Museum’s Art Department. Furthermore, international media also acknowledged the exhibition with some very positive feedbacks and reviews, including onsite shooting of Discovery Channel, Art in America, HALLESCHES journal, The Art Newspaper, Art Quarterly, China Daily European Edition, Taipei Times, I-Design Magazine, The Asahi Shimbun, Bazaar art, GALLERY, 99 Art, Artron, and Art China. Many visitors and reporters have expressed that “Culture．Mind．Becoming” is one of the must-visit exhibitions among the Chinese Collateral Events in this year’s biennale.
In this centuries-old historic palazzo which is decorated with gorgeous chandelier, authentic Italian wine and meals, and band music, art lovers from all over the world gathered to exchange and to share with each other their unique point of view. The various facets of Chinese contemporary art are being exhibited in front of audience from different cultural background. The inspiring exhibition juxtaposing Eastern and Western art will be on view until November 24th; it should help the West to further understand the creative concept and style of Chinese contemporary art, and trigger extensive exchanges and interdisciplinary discussions.