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Gallery home for struggling young artists
June 23, 2010, Wednesday
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INNA Xu has turned her film-developing store into a gallery and gathering place for Hangzhou's young artists, many struggling with the question of whether to paint from their heart or paint for money. Xu Wenwen sketches the picture.
Fresh art graduates need affirmation, encouragement, a place to show their work - and money would be nice. Just how long their parents will continue to finance artistic pursuits that bear no financial fruit is a pressing question.
Another burning question for artists, a real dilemma, is whether to create "pure art" and be true to themselves or create art that sells and caters to the market.
In China many artists create popular works to make a living and some do extremely well, but some free spirits remain, following their heart to paint truly original contemporary work as well as Western-style art with a Chinese vision.
One person who supports these "pure pursuits" is Inna Xu, fan of contemporary art and owner of a store that develops photographic film.
For nearly two years the 40-year-old businesswoman has helped Hangzhou's young artists hold exhibitions for free, and some have received the notice and support they deserve.
"My aim is to bring about the discovery of good art," says the owner of Clepic (Clear Pic) Image at 465 Hefang Street.
Xu has turned the small, 80-square-meter space into an art gallery. Abstract art and photographs are hung about and murals are even painted.
The store, which still caters to photographers, is in an artistically in-tune area, near the prestigious China Academy of Art, one of the nation's finest. Most of her film customers are university students and Clepic hums with conversation between Xu and her customers about their photography, and other art.
Xu has traveled the world and immersed herself in different art worlds, so she has a lot to share.
Xu knows that the life of art school graduates isn't an easy one. Some take up freelancing and struggle to survive without a permanent job. Some are confused about which direction to follow.
"Those sticking to the inspiration from bottom of their hearts are rare and should be encouraged," says Xu, "so I help as much as I can and I never regret my efforts."
In September 2008, Xu held her first exhibition, "About the Young - Five Young Artists," featuring works of five graduates of the China Academy of Art, in oils, sculpture and ceramics.
Since then Xu has held 15 shows, including eight solo exhibitions, and each time the gallery has been packed with visitors, including some buyers.
Xu displays works of old customers of the store, artists introduced by friends, some discovered by herself in other places. Some artists appeal to her for help and if she thinks they're very good, she agrees to show their work.
Great minds
"I look for artists with great minds and breadth of vision," she says. Though she owns the gallery, she doesn't decide an exhibition's theme - "the artists do."
Fang Wei, who graduated with a master of arts degree, held his first solo exhibition last month after he was introduced to Xu through a mutual friend.
Fang was considering what style to pursue and what ideas mattered, but he hadn't created any new works when he first met Xu.
Xu was moved by Fang's free spirit and invited him to hold a solo show, giving him five months to create an exhibition.
The show was well received.
"This is the only gallery in Hangzhou that helps young artists to mature over time," says Fang, "and it adopts an original way to recognize artists and allow them to pursue pure art."
As the reputation of Xu and her gallery grows, more and more artists are getting in touch with her and volunteering to help other artists.
"It's utopian but it's also very real to see artist-photographers take pictures of other artists' shows, design students decorate the gallery, and artists serve as assistants and waiters at show openings," says artist Chen Dongfan, who has held one solo and several group shows at Clepic.
"We don't have any commercial purpose but we succeed through hard work," says Xu. "It's wonderful to see artists who have been helped helping other artists."
Today, the gallery is expanding the number of artists whose work it shows and is seeking new ways to raise money for them. While some works sell, other with high-price tags still hang on gallery walls.
Meanwhile, Xu has come up with the idea of copying some paintings, cutting them into pieces and printing them onto T-shirts and bags, each selling for 199 yuan (US$29).
This attracts young art fans who can't afford the originals. "But affordable trendy items mean that fans of a particular artist can carry a bit of his or her work around," says gallery owner Xu.
Fresh art graduates need affirmation, encouragement, a place to show their work - and money would be nice. Just how long their parents will continue to finance artistic pursuits that bear no financial fruit is a pressing question.
Another burning question for artists, a real dilemma, is whether to create "pure art" and be true to themselves or create art that sells and caters to the market.
In China many artists create popular works to make a living and some do extremely well, but some free spirits remain, following their heart to paint truly original contemporary work as well as Western-style art with a Chinese vision.
One person who supports these "pure pursuits" is Inna Xu, fan of contemporary art and owner of a store that develops photographic film.
For nearly two years the 40-year-old businesswoman has helped Hangzhou's young artists hold exhibitions for free, and some have received the notice and support they deserve.
"My aim is to bring about the discovery of good art," says the owner of Clepic (Clear Pic) Image at 465 Hefang Street.
Xu has turned the small, 80-square-meter space into an art gallery. Abstract art and photographs are hung about and murals are even painted.
The store, which still caters to photographers, is in an artistically in-tune area, near the prestigious China Academy of Art, one of the nation's finest. Most of her film customers are university students and Clepic hums with conversation between Xu and her customers about their photography, and other art.
Xu has traveled the world and immersed herself in different art worlds, so she has a lot to share.
Xu knows that the life of art school graduates isn't an easy one. Some take up freelancing and struggle to survive without a permanent job. Some are confused about which direction to follow.
"Those sticking to the inspiration from bottom of their hearts are rare and should be encouraged," says Xu, "so I help as much as I can and I never regret my efforts."
In September 2008, Xu held her first exhibition, "About the Young - Five Young Artists," featuring works of five graduates of the China Academy of Art, in oils, sculpture and ceramics.
Since then Xu has held 15 shows, including eight solo exhibitions, and each time the gallery has been packed with visitors, including some buyers.
Xu displays works of old customers of the store, artists introduced by friends, some discovered by herself in other places. Some artists appeal to her for help and if she thinks they're very good, she agrees to show their work.
Great minds
"I look for artists with great minds and breadth of vision," she says. Though she owns the gallery, she doesn't decide an exhibition's theme - "the artists do."
Fang Wei, who graduated with a master of arts degree, held his first solo exhibition last month after he was introduced to Xu through a mutual friend.
Fang was considering what style to pursue and what ideas mattered, but he hadn't created any new works when he first met Xu.
Xu was moved by Fang's free spirit and invited him to hold a solo show, giving him five months to create an exhibition.
The show was well received.
"This is the only gallery in Hangzhou that helps young artists to mature over time," says Fang, "and it adopts an original way to recognize artists and allow them to pursue pure art."
As the reputation of Xu and her gallery grows, more and more artists are getting in touch with her and volunteering to help other artists.
"It's utopian but it's also very real to see artist-photographers take pictures of other artists' shows, design students decorate the gallery, and artists serve as assistants and waiters at show openings," says artist Chen Dongfan, who has held one solo and several group shows at Clepic.
"We don't have any commercial purpose but we succeed through hard work," says Xu. "It's wonderful to see artists who have been helped helping other artists."
Today, the gallery is expanding the number of artists whose work it shows and is seeking new ways to raise money for them. While some works sell, other with high-price tags still hang on gallery walls.
Meanwhile, Xu has come up with the idea of copying some paintings, cutting them into pieces and printing them onto T-shirts and bags, each selling for 199 yuan (US$29).
This attracts young art fans who can't afford the originals. "But affordable trendy items mean that fans of a particular artist can carry a bit of his or her work around," says gallery owner Xu.
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