In the beautiful and hearty golden season of New Jersey, from November 8 to 10, 2021, the three consecutive days of "No Questions Asked: Contemporary Art Forum" were successfully held at William Patterson University.
Professor Cong Zhiyuan, director of the China Art Center, who is the head of the organizers, pointed out: "Both Eastern and Western art are the spiritual wealth of mankind. We do not ask questions, and jointly pay attention to the trends and development of eastern and western contemporary art. The forum specially invited several scholars, artists, curators and professors from the Eastern United States to travel between China and the United States to pay attention to and participate in the art worlds of the East and the West, especially the development and future of contemporary art. ”
November 8 was the first day of the Forum's series of events, and the theme of the speech was new media art. Professor Liqin Tan from Rutgers University gave a lecture entitled "The Future Development Trend of Science and Technology Art". From his personal digital art practice to his digital art research, he elaborated and envisioned the future of the art of technology. Professor Fu Yunxue of New York University gave a lecture entitled "Digital 3-Degree Space World". She introduces the digital 3-degree space world today, introduces the teaching program of digital art at New York University, and the digital installations she and her students are curating and creating in Washington Square, New York.
The theme of the lecture on November 9 is Contemporary Art in China. Professor Gan Yifei, a professor and independent curator from The Hallde College in Maryland, told the development of contemporary art in China in the title "Chinese Contemporary Art", and introduced the contemporary art exhibition he curated in Chengdu, China. Dr. Song Xiaoxia, Professor of Art History at the School of Humanities, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China, gave a speech entitled "The Inside and Outside of Chinese Contemporary Art", in which she introduced the artists, exhibitions and works of Chinese contemporary art at home and abroad from the perspective of Chinese scholars.
On November 10, Chinese and Americans gathered in the lecture hall of the University Library to talk east and west, pushing "No Questions Asked: Contemporary Art Forum" to a climax. The forum was co-chaired by Dr. Wartyna Davis, Dean of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at William Patterson University, and Professor Cong Zhiyuan.
Dr. Joshua B. Powers, First Executive Vice-Chancellor and Provost of Weiwei University, began the speech. He said: "I am very pleased that the China Art Center at William Patterson University is hosting The No Question: Contemporary Art Forum, and I would like to thank Professor Cong Zhiyuan, Director of the China Arts Center, for his outstanding leadership and strong community support for us. I hope that in this forum dedicated to preserving and sharing China's artistic heritage and integrating into its rich traditions, new perspectives and insights on contemporary art will be found and will continue in our curriculum. I also hope to connect and enjoy through this forum a mutual collective with which we are getting rid of the epidemic, or at least learning how to live with it, is an important moment when we can all try and appreciate the good things. ”
Chen Rubin, art columnist of Overseas Chinese Daily, spoke first, and in the special lecture of "Special Exhibitions of Contemporary Asian Art in New York Museums since the 21st Century", he specially and systematically and summarized the exhibitions, works and artists from Chinese contemporary artists held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum of Art since 2000. Professor Daryl Joseph Moore, Head of the Department of Fine Arts, gave a talk entitled "Eye of the Storm: Chinese Contemporary Art.". From the perspective of American artists, he introduced and elaborated on the repercussions and feelings of Chinese contemporary art, especially the works of Shanghai artists, in mainstream community exhibitions in New Jersey. Professor Zhang Zongfan of the University of Stockton, New Jersey, gave a lecture entitled "Contemporary Art in Taiwan: Abstraction, Vision and Hearing". She interprets and introduces her curated contemporary art exhibitions, artists and works from the perspective of an artist from Taiwan. Professors Song Xiaoxia, Gan Yifei and Fu Yunxue once again analyzed and discussed the past, present and future of contemporary art from a new perspective, more macro or micro perspective. In his speech entitled "The Problems of Chinese Contemporary Art", Professor Song especially used a work of Chinese contemporary art as an example to deeply and analyze the external art form and inner meaning of the creation of the work; Professor Gan focused on the contemporary art in southwest China in the context of the overview of contemporary art; Professor Fu introduced her newly displayed video and digital works in Times Square and other places in New York.
It's a very successful forum, a very professional, intellectual, deep and breadth of conversations about things. Although the forum arranged three days of speeches and dialogues, the speakers were very excited, the audience was very attentive, and the questioners were very enthusiastic, but everyone felt unfinished, hoping to hold a longer time and hold more activities.
Dean Davis concluded: "Today's No Questions: Contemporary Art Forum is positioned in the dialogue between contemporary art and East-West art, which is incredibly exciting for us. The forum brought us together so closely, fostered mutual understanding of culture and the arts, and enriched the academic atmosphere of the university, and we are very grateful to Professor Cong Zhiyuan for his careful planning to provide such a rare opportunity in the post-pandemic moment. As Dean of the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at William Patterson University's new portfolio, I fully support the University's China Arts Center, thank you for your presentations, and thank you for your participation! (Photo: Courtesy of the organizer)
Group photo of participating scholars, vice presidents, deans, etc.
Dean Davis and Professor Cong Zhiyuan chaired the meeting.
Mr. Chen Rubin made a statement.
Professors Gan Yifei and Song Xiaoxia gave lectures on Chinese contemporary art.
Professor Tan Liqin in his speech.
Forum scholars at Weida.
Dean Davis, the participating scholars, Lin Jiehui and Yan Xinjiao were at the dinner after the forum.