Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
commonly explored by Chinese artists during this period - in his
Mask
series
from the 1990s.
Ai Weiwei, who enjoys great international fame partly due to his defiant
stand, best exemplifies the tense overlap between artistic self-expression, dis-
sent and conflict with the authorities in China today. Arrested in 2011 and
charged with tax evasion, Ai Weiwei gained further publicity for his temporary
Sunflower Seeds
exhibition at London's Tate Modern, which featured millions
of handpainted porcelain seeds. In 2012, he also jointly won the inaugural
Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent from the Human Rights Foundation,
along with Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi.
Literature
Classical Chinese novels evolved from
the popular folktales and dramas that
entertained the lower classes. During
the Ming dynasty they were penned in a
semi- vernacular (or 'vulgar') language,
and are often irreverently funny and full
of action-packed fights.
Probably the best-known novel out-
side China is
Journey to the West
(Xiy-
ou Ji) - more commonly known as
Mon-
key
. Written in the 16th century, it fol-
lows the misadventures of a cowardly
Buddhist monk (Tripitaka; a stand-in for
the real-life pilgrim Xuan Zang) and his
companions - a rebellious monkey,
lecherous pig-man and exiled monster-
immortal - on a pilgrimage to India. In
2007 a Chinese director collaborated
with Damon Albarn of the virtual band
Gorillaz to transform the story into a circus opera that has played to consider-
able international acclaim.
Art Museums
3 ROCKBUND ART MUSEUM
(
CLICK HERE
)
4 HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART
(
CLICK HERE
)
