A slice of society

According to Liu Weiwei, executive director of the Times Art Museum and the exhibition's supervisor, this exhibition has been nearly a year in the making.

"Young artists serve as a slice of society, expressing their thoughts on the current era and social conditions through their work," Liu explains.

Liu believes that artists born after the 1990s are evolving, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions. "Many artists feel our current era is marked by profound uncertainty, with significant events unfolding. Each person in this era experiences intense emotions and insights. Some artists use their work to express these feelings," Liu explains.

"By age 30 or 35, artists' thoughts mature, their creative expressions become more refined and their works more complete. This period represents a peak of productivity, enriched by life experiences, personal reflections and social observations. Our goal is to showcase the artistic achievements of this generation at this pivotal stage," Liu adds.

While older artists might conduct fieldwork in rural areas or lands, today's youth see their "field" as the internet, livestreaming platforms or online marketplaces like Taobao. This defines the content of the Social Fieldwork section, aimed at showcasing the experiential artworks of these artists.

Tong Kunniao's The Squad Is Burning Out is just a highlight of this chapter, created specifically for the exhibition.

"Tong ventured into creating his largest work yet. We collaborated closely with him during curation, designing a custom glass enclosure suited to the expansive exhibition space," Liu explains. "This presentation adds a ceremonial touch and impact, reminiscent of showcasing a massive dinosaur skeleton in a museum."