Description

The DSLCollection is a collection of contemporary art by Chinese artists. With a focus on the contemporary production of a specific culture, this collection is not guided by the search for otherness. It admits basic cultural similarities and dispositions and goes beyond a simplistic approach of looking for typical cultural signs and symbols. Authenticity is understood as the result of a thorough artistic research, one that is not simply the expression of a specific cultural identity or the mere result of political, economic or social changes. Individual quests and marginal positions are therefore the major focus of this collection. Identity is seen as a shifting entity subject to constant redefinition and relocation. Therefore, we limit the collection to a specific number of artworks - about 120 pieces - as an entity open to constant redefinition. Openness, movement and communication are the basic qualities we want to convey. Believing that every real change has to take place with the individual, this collection constitutes a platform for communication and interaction among individuals from world-wide. The DSL collection comprises of artworks by artists of different generations, from those who have been active since the early 1980’s, like Zhang Peili, Xu Tan, Wang Guangyi, Gu Dexin, Yang Jiechang, Wang Du, Wu Shanzhuan, Wang Gongxin, Xu Bing, Gu Wenda, Ding Yi, Shen Yuan, Chen Chieh-Jen, to those of the youngest generation, like Liu Wei, Zheng Guogu, Xu Zhen, Jiang Zhi, Cao Fei, Yang Yong. It focuses on conceptual art and video, but without putting aside the genre of painting. One major interest is to further the Cantonese art scene, and many important works since the early 1990’s, in particular by the Big Tail Elephant Group and the Yangjiang Youth, have been acquired. Evidently, the DSL Collection features works of contemporary Chinese art different than the proliferating auction houses and the international market. Yet, most of the artists in this collection are included in high-profile exhibitions all over the globe. Here the collection takes into account the long-term development of the international art world, the influences of globalization on local art scenes since the middle of 1990’s. As a fact ignored by the western art world, globalization is an everyday reality for Chinese artists. As a result of their participation in international exhibitions and events, their contribution to the contemporary art practice and discourse would only gain more and more importance in the near future.

Languages

English (en-us) (Main language)Russian, Chinese (zh-cn), Portuguese (pt-pt), Spanish (es-es), French (fr-fr), Arabic (ar-sa)