Curator：Yi Liu / 策展人：劉藝
Curatorial Advisor：Diana Freundl / 策展顧問：斐丹娜
Organized by R-Space Art Development Foundation & Canada Artchina Center
主辦機構：溫哥華融空間藝術發展基金會 / 溫哥華ACC 藝術空間
SOME THOUGHTS FROM THE CURATOR
The title of this Chinese title for this exhibition “xingzhe xinyu” translates as “the inner musings of the itinerant monk,” conjuring up the idea of a person wandering down the road. But within the Chinese context, the term “xingzhe” or itinerant monk also refers specifically to a person who has mastered the principles of Zen Buddhism and is a practitioner of the philosophy. There are certain historical personages who have been, in a sense, “deified” as “xingzhe,” characters such as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from the Song-Dynasty epic Journey to the West. These itinerant monks were people on the move, but they also harbored a certain deep compassion for others; they were even said to have the ability to enact miracles.
In the space of the past two years, from 2010-2012, Shengtian Zheng, who is already in his seventies along with his close friend Canadian artist, Don Li-Leger, and Chinese entrepreneur Li Lin traveled all over Greater China, from Taiwan to Hong Kong to the Mainland, visiting 20 cities to interview 55 of the most dynamic contemporary Chinese artists in celebration of the tenth anniversary of Yishu: Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art. In the past ten years, Zheng has also collected, revised and edited 51 interviews and 51 videos with the aim of publishing this book. Many of the stories he encountered during this project were deeply moving, invoking our sincere admiration for the project and its subjects. Zheng and his delegation of three wanderers, who roamed through Greater China have collected the intimate stories of those they met during their travels. Through the questions and dialogues which emerged during these meetings, we can understand what motivated these wanderers to take action and also learn that the source of their deep compassion is derived from a profound understanding of the profundities of life.
The miracles produced by these itinerant monks, their natural achievements, were painstakingly carved out through hours of work and this project necessitates a profound contemplation on the current state of civilization and the future spiritual and social consciousness of the Chinese people. These itinerant monks are the harbingers of an era, roaming both near or far, together they create a miracle. Good art can unlock human potential to reach a divine ideal, but these sages do not walk alone; good art has the ability to move the human soul. These interviews and videos prepared by Shengtian Zheng form the main thread of this project and are accompanied by include certain archival materials which are relevant to the interview process. In choosing to hold this exhibition in Vancouver, we are hoping to increase the awareness of the unique historical significance of this project.
This project, which spanned the space of two years, and was the product of intense exchange between East and West facilitated by Shengtian Zheng over dozens of years, represents an outstanding contribution, but one which is nonetheless a mere drop in the ocean of art history. This exhibition pays tribute to this renowned artist, critic, and advocate of contemporary art, Shengtian Zheng, while being at the same time a tribute to the all of the people who participated and the artists who were engaged in interviews. Most importantly, this project is a tribute to the recently-deceased Don Li-Leger, the Canadian artist who contributed his time and skills to shoot the videos which form the backbone of this project.
Liu Yi / 2019.04.09