Exhibiting Experimental Art in China

This text raises questions about artistic freedom and censorship. Wu Hung uses the Chinese government's cancellation of the exhibition "It's Me", Beijing 1998, to anchor his analysis of the challenges face by contemporary Chinese artisits and curators. Mainland China is experiencing many rapid changes, and many artists and curators are seeking new ways to show work, and find new allies, patrons and audiences. These people are investigating ways to respond to official antagonism and realize the potential of experimental art in the public sphere, as well as how to maintain the independence of this art in a commercialized society. These issues are addressed by Wu Hung through a survey of exhibition practices, a discussion of the Smart Museum exhibition "Canceled: Exhibiting Experimental Art in China", a case study of "It's Me", and a collection of materials from 11 other exhibitions.