Art Attack: UCCA's Big Show and the Trials of Translation

With the holidays now behind us, things are kicking back into gear. Two major cultural events are set to take place this week. First up, UCCA's humungous "ON/OFF" exhibition starts on Sunday. We're promised a collection of work from over 50 different artists born after 1975, the first generation of Chinese artists to have grown up with the Internet. We've been told to expect far more than just drawings and sculptures; great movies and concerts are being promised as well. We'll be keeping our ears open for what's in store.

Secondly, The Bookworm, which just released the program for their 2013 Literary Festival, will be holding a discussion on what it takes to help Western audiences better understand Chinese literature. Speakers from two literary magazines, Pathlight and Asymptote, will talk about the challenges and joys of their work bringing Chinese literature to the West. The event takes place next Thursday.

Last week, I made a trip up to Caochangdi art village to look around. "Nonexistent Reality" at Chambers Fine Art Gallery was nice. While the press release boasted that the artists took inspiration from The Truman Show and blabbed about relationships with reality, the actual paintings depicted lovely fairytale worlds and thought-provoking images of cities submerged under water. I enjoyed taking the time to look around. The work, also by young Chinese artists, gave me hope for what UCCA has in store at "ON/OFF."

Photo: Blouin Artinfo