Debra Li debra_lidan@163.com DOZENS of works from 21 prominent artists in the collection of OCAT are on display at the Art Museum of Guangming Culture and Art Center, offering a panoramic and retrospective view of contemporary Chinese art. Titled “Gaze of Time” and meant as an echo to the exhibition “Off the Beaten Track” that was held at OCAT in March to mark its 18th anniversary, the current show presents 54 sculptures, ink paintings, prints, oil paintings, installations, photos and videos through Feb. 26， 2024. The majority of the exhibits have made their presence at previous exhibitions curated by OCAT, with some being donated to enrich the museum’s collection. “Time is an abstract concept, and even the defining ‘18 years’ make just a fleeting moment in history,” said Yu Minling, who co-curated the exhibition with Li Yusha. “It is through these art pieces that memories of the past 18 years come to life again. Collectively, they tell a story of individual artists’ endeavors as well as how Chinese contemporary art has progressed and transformed over the years.” Arranged into three parts according to chronology, the exhibition highlights the various periods during OCAT’s history: from 2005 to 2011, from 2012 to 2022, and this year on. The featured artists include sculptors Zhan Wang, Xiang Jing and her late husband Qu Guangci, and Dai Yun, painters Yan Shanchun and Liang Quan, concept artist Yao Mingfeng, and painter/visual artist Che Jianquan, among others. When OCAT opened its door to the public in 2005, the first exhibition it hosted was titled “Takeoff.” Curated by late art historian and critic Huang Zhuan, the exhibition presented Huang Yongping’s “Bat Plan,” the replica of a bomber, with the process of its being built captured in photos. Those photos are presented at the current show, reminding viewers of the vision of Huang Zhuan who anticipated OCAT to become a hub of Chinese contemporary art. Starting in 2012, OCAT began to expand and gradually became the operator of five museums, each with different specialties, in Shenzhen as well as in Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing. Led by its executive curators and academic consultants Huang Zhuan, Wu Hong, Zhang Peili, Karen Smith, Wang Yu, Guo Weiqi and Feng Feng, the OCAT museums expanded their scope and initiated research on the various branches of art and design in addition to their curating high-quality exhibitions. On the sideline of the exhibition is another show titled “The Shadows of Time,” which presents OCAT’s endeavors in academic research. The visitors can view posters of past exhibitions, and books and other literature focusing on the practice of individual artists and budding talents as well as various branches of contemporary art. | 