Real Life Stories
4 October 2012–3 February 2013
Press preview: 3 October, 11am
Opening: 4 October, 7:30pm
Bergen Kunstmuseum
Rasmus Meyers allé
5015 Bergen, Norway
The world renowned artist Ai Weiwei has chosen to premiere his new installation work in the Chinese group exhibition Real Life Stories, with ten of China’s leading contemporary artists. Real Life Stories will be shown in Bergen, Norway only.
As its title indicates, the exhibition will present real stories from today’s China. The ten artists, of great international acclaim, will show works that provide striking images of Chinese contemporary life and society. As the world’s largest production plant, China is in the midst of a rapid economic development which affects social conditions as well as artists’ works.
The installation by Ai Weiwei (1957)will be shown in the museum’s spectacular Tower Room at Lysverket. This building will also be the venue for five films by the artist, among them the award-winning documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.It is the first time in many years that Ai Weiwei will participate in a group exhibition.
The other artists who are represented in Real Life Stories are:
Jing Kewen (1965), Li Songsong (1973), Liu Jianhua (1962), Mao Tongqiang (1960), Song Dong (1966), Xiang Jing (1968), Xu Bing (1955), Yin Xiuzhen (1963), Yue Minjun (1962)
Real Life Stories examines connections that exist between the old and the new China. Works that refer to the country’s political and historical past are included, as well as works that deal with identity, memory and strong social cohesion. In addition, several works that will be shown in the exhibition shed light on social conditions that pertain to dissidents’ statements and freedom of speech issues.
All ten artists who participate in the exhibition are internationally renowned and have participated in exhibitions at institutions like Tate Modern, MoMA, National Gallery, ARCO and ARoS, as well as at many different biennials, like Venice, São Paulo, Moscow, Johannesburg and Sydney.
Most of the artists will be present at the opening of the exhibition.
Curators are Feng Boyi, Chief Curator of He Xiangning Art Museum and freelance curator Bjørn Inge Follevaag. Co-curators are Erlend G. Høyersten, director, and Eli Okkenhaug, chief curator at Art Museums of Bergen. Wang Dong of He Xiangning Art Museum is Feng Boyi’s curatorial assistant.
The same day Skin, Flesh and Bone, another group exhibition of Chinese art, will open at
Stiftelsen 3,14.
This exhibition is also curated by Feng Boyi.
For more information
Erlend G. Høyersten, Director, T +47 454 26 542
Henrik A. Berg, Head of Information, T +47 932 83 111
Hilde J. Mæland, Senior Advisor Information, T +47 456 00 710
