Zhang Ruiheng, "Traveling Through Space", 1979

China Modern: Designing Popular Culture 1910-1970

January 27 - March 25, 2012

China Modern: Designing 20th Century Popular Culture presents an in depth exploration of 20th century Chinese advertising images, mass media, graphic and product design that demonstrate how political ideologies and cultural values are transmitted through everyday objects.  The more than 170 objects in this exhibition bring two contrasting 20th century ideologies—Capitalism and Communism—to the level of popular culture. The exhibition shows how, despite vastly different goals, the means of instilling these values was often strikingly similar. The predominantly graphic-based objects in China Modern include lychee and cigarette boxes, children’s toys, a multitude of product labels and advertisements, and propaganda from the rule of Mao Zedong. Beautifully detailed woodblock prints and lithographs showcase the high-quality craftsmanship of Chinese print designers and artisans.

China Modern: Designing 20th Century Popular Culture was developed by the Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena, CA and tour organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.

Rong Rong. "East Village, Beijing, No. 1.", 1994. Gelatin silver print. Courtesy of the artist

Beijing’s East Village: Photographs by Rong Rong, 1993–1997

January 27 - March 25, 2012

This exhibition features a selection of black and white photographs by the contemporary Chinese artist Rong Rong (b.1968).  From 1993 to 1994, a group of experimental artists took up residence in an impoverished neighborhood in Beijing that they dubbed “East Village” (dong cun).  As a principal member of this struggling artists’ community, Rong Rong shared in the adversities of pursuing art in the bleakest conditions.  In spite of—and because of—these grim circumstances, the East Village became the site of some of the most experimental performances at the time.  While artists were forced to leave in late 1994, their experiences in the East Village served as a vital catalyst for many of their later works.  Examples of these latter experiments are also highlighted in this exhibition.