The first UK China Arts Meeting, hosted by Birkbeck College, took place in the Peltz Gallery in Bloomsbury on the 2nd November and it included talks, presentations of music and film, an interview and open discussion.
Here Dr Martin Welton of Queen Mary University of London and multi-lingual musician Gisele Edwards are taking questions and discussing their work and the wider issues involved in artistic residencies in both the UK and China.
The following two images are by the artist Helen Couchman who discussed her seven-year working period in Beijing covering both the inspiration behind the work and the practical process of how these projects were made.
Wang Zijun from the WORKERS 工人 series. Beijing, China © Helen Couchman
+No++52.+Beijing,+China+%EF%BF%BD+Helen+Couchman.jpg)
Untitled (Collecting and Dropping) no. 52. Beijing, China © Helen Couchman
Richard Layzell gave a well-appreciated lecture presentation and video screening on his residency in Shanghai for Square Mile and subsequent development of this work in the UK. The presentation finished with the screening of this video from his residency at Forty Hall (complete)
Sarah Fisher from the newly renamed Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (previously Chinese Arts Centre) Manchester introduced both the work of the artists they host, many of whom are from China and the organisation and its objectives in creating such cross-cultural opportunities for the creation and exhibition of contemporary art.
The day was curated and hosted by Dr Bill Aitchison, artist and associate research fellow at Birkbeck, and run with the assistance of Miyi Zhu. Discussion was lively and engaged covering both the projects presented, the theme of artistic residencies and the challenged and opportunities that come from Chinese artists working in the UK and British artists working in China. The day concluded with a drinks reception and many new connections were made both between the presenters and between those attending
Sarah Fisher from the newly renamed Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (previously Chinese Arts Centre) Manchester introduced both the work of the artists they host, many of whom are from China and the organisation and its objectives in creating such cross-cultural opportunities for the creation and exhibition of contemporary art.
The day was curated and hosted by Dr Bill Aitchison, artist and associate research fellow at Birkbeck, and run with the assistance of Miyi Zhu. Discussion was lively and engaged covering both the projects presented, the theme of artistic residencies and the challenged and opportunities that come from Chinese artists working in the UK and British artists working in China. The day concluded with a drinks reception and many new connections were made both between the presenters and between those attending
A second meeting is anticipated for 2014 and suggestions for topics are welcomed.
