Melting Boundaries

The Chinese Contemporary Art 2025 Special Exhibition in The Hague

Rooted in the theme "Blending Chinese and Western Cultures, Inspiring the New through the Ancient," this special 2025 exhibition in The Hague aims to provide a dynamic platform for emerging Chinese artists to showcase their talents. It seeks to contribute uniquely Chinese perspectives to the global development of contemporary art. The event is co-hosted by Pulchri Studio in The Hague and the Shanghai Association for Cultural Exchange with Foreign Countries. It is organized by Shanghai Fuyi Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. and co-organized by the Hague Oriental Art Museum.

Curated by Tu Ningning, who is also the project planner of the "Distant Encounter" Chinese-Foreign Cultural Exchange Program approved by the Shanghai Association, this initiative builds on a track record of seven successful international exhibitions held between 2016 and 2024.

The exhibition takes inspiration from the legacy of Lin Fengmian, who lived from 1900 to 1991 and is widely regarded as a pivotal figure in Chinese modern art. As one of the earliest Chinese students to study in France, Lin played a transformative role in shaping modern Chinese aesthetics by drawing upon traditional Chinese opera, folk art, and Western techniques. His pioneering spirit laid the groundwork for generations of Chinese artists to engage with global art movements. Today, his approach, centered on cultural fusion and artistic innovation, continues to resonate with young artists navigating the evolving intersections of tradition and technology, especially in the context of digital and AI-driven art.

During the rise of Western modernism, many Eastern artists, like Lin Fengmian, contributed actively to this artistic reformation. He not only innovated in his own work but also mentored future icons, including Zao Wou-Ki (Zhao Wuji), whose works gained international acclaim in France. The exhibition is supported by the Netherlands East-West Culture and Art Research Association, the Hague Oriental Art Museum, and the renowned overseas Chinese artist Mr. Zhou Lesheng. Upon learning that Lin Fengmian’s works would be featured, they contacted the National Academy of Fine Arts in Paris to propose a major retrospective of his work for 2026.

To help contextualize Lin Fengmian’s modernist legacy, the exhibition includes a rare print work titled Notes of Gaze by Zao Wou-Ki. It also highlights the continuing influence of Lin’s teachings through the participation of Mr. Ding Liren, another of Lin’s students. At the age of 96, Mr. Ding remains an active presence on the global art stage. Following recent solo exhibitions at the Power Station of Art in Shanghai and in Switzerland, he will also present work in this exhibition in The Hague.

The exhibition brings together a cross-generational selection of artists working at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Ni Weihua, one of the earliest conceptual artists recognized during China’s 1985 New Wave movement, presents Tracing Marks, a video work that interprets the Chinese concept of time through ink-based forms. Ding She, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Artists Association, presents Reef, an experimental contemporary landscape rendered on paper. Contemporary artist Pin San transforms traditional Chinese paper-cutting into sculptural forms by etching stainless steel in Ode to the Goddess of Luo River. Yunnan-based artist Zhang Hua uses traditional polishing techniques on river stones to create Stone Origin. Liu Zhenchen, a Chinese artist living in Germany, contributes Kaleidoscope, a piece rich in visual and conceptual complexity. Tu Ningning explores the themes of Go culture and digital technology through her installation titled Game, offering deep reflection on the balance between tradition and futurism.

Altogether, the exhibition will present four works by Lin Fengmian on loan from overseas, one print by Zao Wou-Ki, and twenty works by seven younger Chinese artists. The organizers plan to invite five of these artists to the opening ceremony in The Hague to engage in meaningful exchanges with Dutch artists, promoting deeper dialogue and cooperation between the two cultures. This initiative aims to enhance mutual understanding and help contemporary art shine more brightly on the international stage.

Participating Artists include: Lin Fengmian, Zao Wou-Ki, Cang Yuan, Ding Liren, Ding She, Ni Weihua, Liu Zhenchen, Pin San, Tu Ningning, and Zhang Hua, Bob Bonies, Ed van der Kooy, Piet Warffemius.