GENG JIANYI

From March 18 to June 11, 2023, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art presents “Who is He? A Geng Jianyi Retrospective,” a systematic look at the artistic career of one of contemporary China’s most influential conceptual artists, Geng Jianyi (1962-2017). Continuing UCCA’s ongoing emphasis on the history of contemporary art in China dating back to the emergence of the ‘85 New Wave, the exhibition surveys the breadth of Geng’s more than 30-year-long creative practice through more than 90 representative artworks in mediums including painting, installation, performance, and video. Supplemented by a wealth of archival materials, the show provides a comprehensive overview of how Geng constantly broke new ground through his experimental practice, pushing against the limits of pre-established art forms. Many of the works on display are being shown to Beijing audiences for the first time. Co-organized by the Power Station of Art and UCCA, “Who is He? A Geng Jianyi Retrospective” is curated by Karen Smith and Yang Zhenzhong, with Zhang Peili as special consultant.