Skip to 0 minutes and 8 seconds China has experienced dramatic changes over the past four decades. While we become more affluent, we are also facing complex social issues. A number of Chinese artists have responded to these issues through art. They have created site-specific performances in lakes, rivers, and mountains to raise ecological consciousness. They have written songs and plays for millions of migrant workers, to address the issue of inequality. They organized parades and festivals for villagers, to make the processes of rural governance visible. These artists not only contribute to social change, they also push the boundaries of contemporary art. They challenge the conventional modes of artistic production and reception.
Skip to 0 minutes and 59 seconds City University of Hong Kong is offering this online course on socially engaged art in contemporary China. We will look at inspiring artworks, conduct critical analysis, and discuss key theoretical questions. This course is highly visual. We have collected a large number of photographs and videos, conducted interviews with the artists, and even captured some of the sites using a 360-degree camera. This inter-disciplinary course will broaden your knowledge of contemporary art, and contemporary China. It will enable you to approach social issues with a more creative mind.