Name: Zhang Zhaohui | 张朝晖
    Occupation: Gallery owner, curator, critic, author
    Birthplace: Beijing

 

1) Why/how did you go into the art field?
 
It's my inborn hobby that drives me to go into and stay in the art world over the last 30 years. My hobby gradually turned into interest, commitment, my profession, and my career.

2) Did you ever expect Chinese art to become as popular as it has?
 
I definitely wished for Chinese art to become popular someday, but the popularity arrived faster than I ever expected.

Joey Chang Art, 798, Beijing

3) What are the distinguishing characteristics of contemporary Chinese art?
 
Over the last 15 years, those works that reference historical, cultural, and revolutionary icons have been popular in the international art realm and market. But, I consider this kind of art shallow and cheap, as their narrative characters were matching with the western imagination about China. The best Chinese art should not be so exotic but should be reflect the current universal concerns from a Chinese perspective. I can see these kinds of artists are emerging.

4) The '85 artists were very interested in politics; do you think younger Chinese artists have grown apolitical?
 
Yes I think some younger artist’s work is very much concerned with the political issues, as politics is still an unresolved problem. I think their art will convey the political message in a more complicated fashion.

Cityscape Series-1, 2007, by Rong Zhi

5) You've spent a lot of time abroad, how is the Chinese art scene different from those elsewhere?
 
Ten years' ago, art by overseas Chinese was referencing Chinese history. Domestic art is only more recently responding to communist history,

6) People often talk about the Chinese education system - all the memorization and so forth - as being an obstacle to innovation, do you think Chinese artists suffer from lack of innovation or creativity?
 
I think many Chinese artists are suffering a lot from the shortage of modern/contemporary art education. Their art is more or less influenced by particular western masters. I think it is understandable that modern/contemporary art and society in china has a relative short history compared with western world.

I think the coming one or two decades will be the best period for contemporary Chinese art.

Twinborn 1, 2008, by Dai Chenxi

7) Why should people invest in art, especially Chinese art?
 
I think buying art works is my commitment. I know what the best work is and I know the current and future value. I have witnessed so many artists go from unknown to well-known. I complete understand the system and mechanisms of the development of art market. I wish I had more money to buy Chinese art, and also help people to buy the quality new art they deserve to have.

 

8) What should people keep in mind when buying artwork?

 

You have to consult with a reliable expert! You are innocent if you think you can pick up the best work by your own. I believe some people lost when the market went down as they are over-confident in terms of making a decision to buy expensive art works. Just like a lawsuit requires a lawyer, buying art requires professional help. Their fee will cost you more in the short term but save you or make you a lot more money in the long term.

 

9) There are more foreign galleries coming to China, what do you think they can bring to the local art scene, and what will they need to learn in order to do art business in China?
 
I think foreign gallerists come to Beijing to doing business can be quite helpful for the local market; they can bring Chinese art to the international art market.

 

The Joey Chang Art Collection, Caochangdi, Beijing

 

 

10) What is the deal with the museums in Beijing - they don't seem to have many good exhibitions or even much of a permanent collection?
 
I think all the Chinese museum's operations are very poor compared with western countries and advanced Asian countries and regions. This is because the system is controlled by governmental propaganda. There is no long term display in the art museums; most of the museum shows are commercial (Editor’s note: the artist or their galleries pay to hold the shows). I was very sick of the system and still am.

I think 798 is playing a key role regarding art education. Some foreign art institutions are doing better, such as Ullens Center for Contemporary Art and Galleria Continua, they usually bring the best shows to the audience. That why 798 is more popular than official Chinese art museums.

 

When he’s not traveling abroad to curate exhibitions Zhang Zhaohui can be found at his gallery in 798 or at the newly opened Joey Chang Art Collection (appointment only)

 

Joey Chang Art
East Street,798 Art Zone,No 4,Jiuxianqiao Rd,
Chaoyang Dist,Beijing China 100015
T/F:86-10-5978-9328  Mobile:86-1369-1235-193
E-mail:info@joeychangart.com
www.joeychangart.com

朝艺堂
北京市朝阳区酒仙桥路四号798艺术区东街 100015

 

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